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REPORTS 


OF  THE 


SELECT  COMMITTEE  OF  THE  SENATE 


ON  THE 


AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH, 


WITH  THE 


TESTIMONY  RELATIVE  THERETO. 


ALBANY: 
VAN  BENTHUYSBN,  PRINTER,  407  BROADWAY. 

1857. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/reportsofselectcOOnewy_0 


EEPORTS 


OF  THE 


SELECT  COMMITTEE  OF  THE  SENATE 


ON  THE 


AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH, 


WITH  THE 


TESTIMONY  RELATIIE  THERETO. 


ALBANY: 

VAN  BENTHUYSEX,  PRINTER,  407  BROADWAY. 

1857. 


OSf^^^2^^  A  OKU 


FIRST  REPORT. 


Mr.  Spencer,  from  the  select  committee  to  wMcli  was  referred 
the  report  of  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  church,  in  the  city  of  New- 
York,  in  reply  to  the  resolutions  of  the  Senate,  passed  April  13, 
1855,  and  who  were  subsequently  authorized  ^'  to  examine  into 
the  matters  connected  therewith,  during  the  recess,"  submitted 
the  following 

REPORT: 

That  they  met  in  the  city  of  New- York,  on  Tuesday,  the  2d  of 
December,  and  sat  during  that  day  and  the  3d,  4th  and  19th  and 
20th  days  of  the  same  month. 

Three  days  before,  notice  thereof  (marked  C  in  the  appendix 
to  the  evidence)  was  given  in  writing  to  the  Vestry  of  Trinity 
church,  informing  them  of  the  time  and  place  of  meeting,  and 
offering  them  the  opportunity  of  presenting  then,  or  at  any  time 
during  the  session  of  the  committee,  any  statement  or  explana- 
tion in  regard  to  any  of  the  matters  referred  to  it,  which  they 
might  desire  to  present.  On  the  first  day  a  communication 
(marked  D)  was  received  from  the  comptroller  of  Trinity  church, 
acknowledging  the  receipt  of  the  notice,  and  adding  that  if  your 
committee  would  com.municate  to  him,  for  the  vestry,  what 


4 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


statement  or  explanation  was  wanted  in  regard  to  any  of  the 
matters  contained  in  the  report,  he  would  feel  it  his  duty  to  sub- 
mit the  same,  and  doubted  not  that  the  vestry  would  cheerfully 
and  promptly  furnish  the  requisite  statement  or  explanation. 
Your  committee  thereupon  immediately  addressed  another  note 
to  the  vestry  (marked  E,)  desiring  the  names  of  the  corporators, 
entitled  to  vote  and  voting,  as  required  under  the  first  resolu 
tion  of  inquiry;  also  whether  there  were  any  additional  mort- 
gages or  securities  beside  those  set  forth  in  their  last  repart  to 
the  Senate,  and  if  so,  the  full  particulars  concerning  them;,  and 
also,  the  real  value  of  each  lot  or  parcel  of  land  owned  by  the 
corporation,  irrespective  of  the  leases  thereon. 

A  reply  to  this  note  not  baring  been  recived  o-n  the  4th  of 
December,  a  subpce^na  was  served  upon  the  comptroller,  who 
appeared  before  your  committee  and  testified  j  and  a  copy  of  his 
testimony,  as  given  in  the  subjoined  evidence ^  was  made  out  and 
sent  to  him  at  his  request.. 

On  the  19th  of  December  a  reply  (marked  J)  was  leceivedfrom 
the  corporation,  which  not  only  touches  upon  the  matters  re- 
quested, but  also  furnishes  additional  information  bearing  upon 
new  and  unexpected  points^  opened  during  the  examination  of 
the  comptroller.  This  communication  is  stated  by  the  corpora- 
tion to  be  supplemental  to  their  report^  presented  to  the  Senate 
on  the  20th  of  February ^  1856,  and  it  will  therefore  be  referred 
to  throughout  this  report ^  as  the  supplement. 

Your  committee  have  had  before  them  between  thirty  and  forty 
witnesses,  all  of  the  highest  respectability  and  most  reliable 
character.  Except  those  testifying  merely  to  the  value  and  prices 
of  property,  all  these  witnesses  are  members  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Churchy  and  known  for  their  high  standing  in  that 
communion.  Eleven  are  clergymen,  and  three  of  them  assistant 
ministers  of  Trinity  Church.  Four  of  the  vestry  (including  one 
formerly  a  vestryman)  appeared  before  us,  only  one  of  whom 
declined  to  be  sworn.  This  declining  was  the  more  regretted, 
because  that  vestryman,  being  a  member  of  the  standing  com- 
mittee— which  appears,  from  the  evidence,  to  possess  nearly  all 
the  reliable  knowledge  of  the  aSairs  of  the  corporation — it  was 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH,     ^  5 

hoped  that  his  testimony  would  furnish  explanations  of  no  small 
importance  to  the  vestry. 

In  condensing  the  large  mass  of  information  laid  before  them, 
your  committee  will  first  consider  the  fiv'e  original  resolutions  of 
inquiry,  separately  ;  passing  on  thence  to  the  additional  matter 
introduced  into  their  report  by  the  vestry,  beyond  the  limited 
inforniation  requested,  and  including  also,  by  order  of  the  Sen- 
ate, the  still  more  voluminous  matters  connected  therewith," 
the  consideration  of  which  has  thus  been  necessarily  involved 
by  the  "  more  complete,"  expedient  "  and  "  satisfactory  "  ex- 
pansion given,  of  their  own  accord,  by  the  vestry,  to  their  report. 

First  Resolution^ 

"  Resolved^  That  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church  in  the  city  of 
New- York  be  and  they  are  hereby  required  to  report  to  the  Sen- 
ate of  this  State,  on  or  before  the  seventh  day  of  January  next, 
the  number  and  the  names  of  the  persons  entitled,  under  an  act 
to  alter  the  name  of  the  corporation  of  Trinity  Church  in  New- 
York,  and  for  other  purposes,  passed  January  25th,  1814,  to  vote 
at  the  annual  elections  for  church-wardens  and  vestrymen  of  the 
present  corporation  of  Trinity  Church,  specifying  those  who  vote 
as  communicants,  and  those  who  vote  as  pew-holders  in  the  said 
church,  and  the  names  of  the  persons  so  entitled,  who  did  actu- 
ally vote  at  each  of  the  three  last  annual  elections  held  for  the 
choice  of  church- wardens  and  vestrymen  of  said  corporation." 

In  their  report  to  the  Senate,  the  corporation  gave  the  number 
of  the  persons  thus  entitled  to  vote,  as  305,  of  whom  92  are 
communicants,  and  213  are  pew-holders.  It  also  gave  the  num- 
ber of  corporators  voting  at  the  annual  election,  not  only  for  the 
three  years  requested,  but  for  ten  years  past.  But  the  report 
gave  no  names, 

Tlie  supplement  states  that  the  corporation  then  designedly 
refrained  from  giving  the  names,"  supposing  "  that  the  names  of 
such  persons  could  not  be  material,  because  the  vestry  were  not 
aware  that  the  liberty  to  inspect  a  list  of  such  names  had  ever 
been  refused  to  any  corporator,"  and  ''because  the  vestry  believed 
that  the  Honorable  Senate,  upon  receiving  the  report^  would  not. 


6 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


at  least  without  evidence  of  such  refusal,  exert  its  authority  for 
the  enforcement  of  a  mere  private  right." 

The  evidence  shows  that  two  of  the  assistant  ministers  of  the 
parish  "  have  made  several  efforts  to  obtain  such  a  list  unsuccess- 
fully that  the  list  is  kept  "  in  the  joint  charge  of  the  comptrol- 
ler and  rector  that  one  who  has  been  a  vestryman  for  six  years 
has  seen  only  "one  list  of  the  corporators,  which  was  kept  by  Dr„ 
Berrian  at  an  election;"  that  another,  who  had  been  a  vestryman 
for  ten  years,  had  "never  seen  a  list  of  the  corporators  5"  and,  he 
added,  that  "the  vestrymen  were  not  allowed  to  see  it,,  that  he 
knew  of;"  and  also  that  the  comptroller  himself,  as  appears  in  his 
evidence,  though  "presuming"  that  the  names  were  in  his  office, 
promised  to  furnish  a  copy  of  them  to  your  committee,  only  in 
case  he  was  authorized  to  do  so  by  'Hhe  committee  of  the  vestry." 

The  vestry,  however,  not  considering  their  objections  to  giving 
the  names  as  "  of  sufficient  importance  to  induce  them  to  with- 
hold making  answer,"  they  supply  the  omitted  lists  of  names, 
w^hich  will  be  found  in  Schedule  A,  appended  to  the  supplement. 
''These  lists,"  the  vestry  add,  "are  believed  to  be  accurate  "  They 
state  in  the  repoit  that  those  who  have  removed  too  far  from  the 
parish  church  and  chapels  to  continue  to  worship  therein,  are  "of 
course,  not  enumerated  among  the  corporators,  because  they  aie 
not  entitled  to  vote."  It  must,  therefore,  be  an  oversight,  that 
among  the  names  contained  in  these  lists  "believed  to  be  accu- 
rate," there  are  those  of  persons  who  have  removed  from  the 
city,  and  also  of  others  who  have  long  been  dead — some  of  them 
for  years. 

In  regard  to  the  fewness  of  the  corporators  entitled  to  vote  for 
the  managers  of  this  large  property,  the  vestry,  in  their  report,  set 
forth  the  probability  of  an  increase,  from  the  late  increase  of  paro- 
chial work.  They  added  :  "A  like  increase  may  also  be  expected 
from  the  persons  worshiping  in  the  new  Trinity  Chapel,  lately 
erected,  who  for  the  space  of  one  year  shall  have  been  members 
of  the  congregation  of  that  chapel.  This  new  chapel  was  prin- 
cipally built  for  the  accommodation  of  the  parishioners  and  their 
families  who  had  been  a  long  time  in  the  parish,  but  had  removed 
too  far  from  the  parish  church  and  chapels  to  continue  to  worship 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


7 


therein  ;  and  thus,  by  inducing  their  return,  to  increase  the  num- 
ber of  our  constituency.''  Although  thus  representing  that  this 
new  chapel  was  principally  built  with  a  view  to  increase  the 
number  of  corporators,  it  appears  from  the  printed  form  of  lease 
given  for  pews  the  first  year,  that  the  said  leases  ran  "  for  the 
term  commencing  on  the  firsi  Sunday  after  Easter,  and  continuing 
to  and  including  Easter-day  in  the  next  year,  and  no  longer.*' 
Thus,  though  a  man  might  be  a  pew-holder  all  the  Sundays  in 
the  year,  he  would  not  be  a  pew-holder  (and  consequently  not  a 
corporator)  on  the  day,  (Easter  Tuesday,)  when  the  annual  elec- 
tion was  held,  since  his  lease  expired  just  two  days  previous, 
and  would  not  recommence  until  four  days  after.  And  to  make 
this  still  more  evident,  each  lease  expressly  stated  in  the  printed 
"  schedule,"  which  forms  part  of  the  document,  that  "  The  above 
agreement,  or  the  occupation  of  a  seat,  does  not  give  to  any  person 
the  rights  and  privileges  of  a  corporator."  Nor  was  this  meant  to 
apply  only  until  such  persons  had  ^'  for  the  space  of  one  year 
been  members  of  the  congregation  of  that  chapel,"  as  would  seem 
to  be  stated  in  the  report  ;  for,  on  the  back  of  that  same  form 
of  lease  there  are  printed  blank  receipts  for  the  pew-rent  for  the 
three  subsequent  years  also,  each  embodying  the  same  phraseol- 
ogy ;  thus  showing  that  the  exclusion  from  the  rights  and  pri- 
vileges of  a  corporator  was  intended  to  continue  for  four  years 
at  the  least.  It  appears  also,  from  the  evidence  of  a  vestryman, 
that  this  was  so  done  in  order  "  to  preclude  the  creation  of  a 
corporator  ;"  and,  as  another  witness  testifies,  this  original  ar- 
rangement was  an  ordinance  of  the  vestry,  interfering  in  some 
respects  with  the  privilege  of  voting  which  was  subsequently 
rescinded.  This  rescinding  is  stated  to  have  taken  place  in  the 
April  after  the  report  of  the  vestry  was  presented  to  the  Senate. 

It  appears,  too,  that  at  one  time,  notwithstanding  objection 
made  on  the  ground  that  it  was  an  "  obstacle  to  voting,"  which 
was  "  contrary  to  the  law,"  the  vestry  required  that  all  corpora- 
tors desiring  to  vote  "  should  give  previous  written  notice  of  such 
desire  to  the  rector." 

Second  Rtsoluiion. 

Resolved,  That  the  said  vestry  be  and  they  are  hereby  directed 
to  report  to  the  Senate  of  this  State,  on  or  before  the  seventh  day 


8 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


of  January  next,  the  amount  of  money  expended  by  said  corpo- 
ration in  building  or  in  aiding  and  assisting  to  build  free  churches 
in  the  destitute  portions  of  the  parish  of  Trinity  Church,  as  ori- 
ginally constituted  and  declared,  and  the  names  of  such  churches, 
with  the  amount  expended  upon  each;  also  the  number  and 
names  of  the  churches  in  the  city  of  New- York,  built,  in  whole 
or  in  part,  by  the  said  corporation  within  the  last  five  years,  and 
the  amount  expended  on  each;  the  number  and  names  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  churches,  situated  in  the  city  of  New- York, 
in  leeble  and  necessitous  circumstances,  which  have  been  aided 
and  assisted  by  the  said  corporation  within  the  last  five  years, 
and  the  amount  of  such  aid  and  assistance,  afforded  annually 
or  otherwise,  to  each;  also  the  number  and  names  of  the  churches 
in  the  city  of  New- York,  endowed  by  the  said  corporation 
within  the  last  five  years,  and  the  amount  of  such  endowment 
in  each  case. 

As  to  free  churches,  it  does  not  appear  from  her  report  that 
Trinity  has  ever  built  any.  The  report  mentions  grants  of 
money  and  land,  before  the  year  1814,  to  St.  Michael's  and  St. 
James'  Churches.  Of  the  grants  since  that  time  there  appear 
only  $14,000  to  aid  in  building  and  rebuilding  the  Church  of 
the  Nativity,  and  $1,600  towards  building  or  enlarging  free 
churches;  of  all  which  $1,100  has  been  paid  within  the  last  five 
years. 

In  the  report^  by  going  back  beyond  the  five  years  to  the  year 
1847,  the  amount  of  $63,850.79  is  set  down  as  having  been  paid 
at  different  times  for  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Evangelist  (now 
occupying  the  old  St.  George's,  Beekman-street.)  Of  this  sum 
$25,000  appears  to  have  been,  not  a  payment  of  any  kind,  but 
only  a  vote  of  the  vestry  empowering^  St.  George's,  Stuyvesant 
square,  to  sell  the  lots  formerly  given  by  Trinity  corporation, 
which  vote  of  the  vestry  is  estimated,  by  Trinity,  to  be  worth 
$25,000  to  St.  George's,  Stuyvesant  square,  and  is  therefore  set 
down  as  so  much  paid  for  St.  George's,  Beekman  street. 


As  to  "  the  churches  in  the  city  of  New- York,  built  in  whole  or 
part "  by  Trinity  corporation,  "  within  the  last  five  years,  and  the 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


amount  expended  in  each,"  it  does  not  appear  from  her  report 
that  there  is  any  such  church,  except  the  new  Trinity  chapel, 
built  for  Trinity  parish  itself,  at  the  cost  of  |227,164.82. 

Of  Protestant  Episcopal  churches,  not  free,  situated  in  the  city 
of  New- York,  in  feeble  and  necessitous  circumstances,  which  have 
been  aided  and  assisted  by  the  said  corporation  within  the  last 
five  years,  the  report  gives  a  list  of  nineteen.  All  the  sums  thus 
given  are  stated  to  be  *'for  the  support"  of  the  said  churches,  no 
mention  being  made  of  building,  enlarging  or  endowing;  and  the 
total  of  all  for  the  five  years  last  past  is  $58,418,  of  which  nearly 
one  half  (26,800)  was  given  to  the  church  of  the  Annunciation 
alone. 

Of  churches  in  the  city  of  New-York  endowed  by  the  said 
corporation  within  the  last  five  years,"  it  does  not  appear  from 
the  report y  or  otherwise,  that  there  is  one. 

Third  Resolution. 

"  Resolved^  That  the  said  vestry  be  and  are  hereby  required  to 
report  to  the  Senate  of  this  State,  on  or  before  the  seventh  day  of 
January  next,  whether  any,  and  if  any,  what  appropriations  have 
been  made  by  them  during  the  last  three  years  to  institutions  of 
charity,  benevolence  or  learning  in  the  city  of  New-York.'' 

The  report  shows  the  gift  of  five  plots  in  Trinity  cemetry,  one 
to  Christ  Church,  and  one  each  to  the  Orphan  Asylum,  the  Society 
for  the  Relief  of  Aged  and  Indigent  Females,  the  Mutual  Benefit 
Society  and  the  Orphans'  Home,  The  report  adds  that  "no  oth- 
er appropriations"  besides  these  have  been  made  during  the  last 
three  years  to  "institutions  of  charity,  benevolence  and  learning, 
in  the  city  of  New- York." 

It  appears  in  the  evidence  that  Trinity  Church  has  never,  at 
any  time,  established  or  endowed  any  institution  of  charity  or 
benevolence,  even  for  her  own  poor. 

Fourth  Resolution, 

"  Resolved^  That  the  said  vestry  be  and  they  are  hereby 
directed  to  report  to  the  Senate  of  this  State,  within  the  first 


10 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


week  of  January  next,  the  estimated  value  of  each  lot  and  par- 
cel of  land  owned  by  the  said  corporation  in  the  city  of  New- 
Yorkj  irrespective  of  the  leases  thereon." 

This  resolution  asks  for  the  estimated  value,  irrespective  of 
the  leases  The  report^  however,  is  based  wholly  on  the  value 
assessed  for  taxation,  which  is  notoriously  less  than  the  market 
value.  From  that  assessed  value,  the  vestry  abstracted  the 
value  of  the  buildings  as  "  estimated"  by  their  own  agents  sent 
round  for  that  purpose  (these  buildings  being  the  property  of 
the  tenants).  The  residue  was  then  still  further  reduced  by 
making  deductions  for  the  length  of  time  the  existing  leases 
have  to  run  ;  and  the  result  is  set  down  as  the  "  present  net 
value"  to  the  church.  The  total  "  present  value"  of  all  the 
real  estate  is  thus  reckoned  in  the  report  to  be  $1,446,371.71. 

In  their  note  to  the  vestry,  your  committee  requested  a  state- 
ment of  the  real  value  of  each  lot  or  parcel  of  land,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  evident  intention  of  the  resolution.  To  this  the 
vestry,  through  their  comptroller,  reply  in  the  supplement  that 
"  they  are  unable  to  give  any  further  answer  on  this  point  than 
th  ^t  contained  in  their  report. "  Statements  upon  such  ques- 
tions" they  consider  to  be  "  mere  matters  ot  opinion."  They 
say  they  "  are  unable  to  agree  upon  any  estimate  of  their  own;  nor 
do  they  think  it  right  that  they  should  discredit  an  official  valua- 
tion of  their  real  estate,  upon  the  basis  of  which  the  tenants  are 
bound  to  pay  the  taxes  and  assessments."  Thus  failing  to  procure 
from  the  vestry  any  thing  resting  on  a  more  reliable  basis  than  the 
assessed  values,  your  committee  received  such  evidence  as  they 
could  obtain  concerning  the  prices  paid  to  Trinity  Church  on 
new  valuations  for  fresh  leases,  or  on  actual  sales,  of  lots  which 
are  valued  in  the  report, — such  valuations  and  sales  being  at  or 
near  the  time  when  that  report  was  laid  before  the  Senate. 

The  "  present  value"  of  No.  251  Broadway  is  estimated  in  the 
report  to  be  $12,081 .56.  Mr.  Jasper  Grosvenor,  the  holder  of  the 
lease,  testifies  that  he  offered  them  $40,000  for  the  reversion  of 
that  lot  (the  lease  having  sixteen  years  to  run),  which  they  refused. 
He  paid  them  $10,000  for  a  stipulation  to  renew  the  lease,  at  its 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


11 


expiratioD,  for  another  term  of  twenty-one  years,  upon  the  usual 
terms. 

The  ''present  value"  of  No.  136,  138,  140  and  142,  Chambers- 
street  is  estimated  in  the  report  at  $28,827.40.  In  December, 
about  two  months  before  the  date  of  the  report^  the  corporation 
itself,  in  a  negotiation  with  the  Hudson  River  Railroad  Company, 
is  proved  to  have  fixed  upon  these  same  lots  the  valuation  of 
$100,000 — the  ground  rent  upon  which  sum  the  Hudson  River 
Railroad  Company  agreed  to  pay. 

The  "  present  value  "  of  No.  275  Greenwich-street,  is  estimated 
in  the  report  at  $6,840.40.  At  actual  sale.  Trinity  corporation  is 
proved  to  have  received  for  it  from  James  H.  Noe,  a  few  days 
before  the  date  of  the  report,  the  sum  of  $20,000. 

The  present  value  of  Nos.  283  and  285  Hudson-street,  is 
estimated  in  the  report  at  $1,964.44.  Actual  sale  to  Joseph 
Tucker,  as  he  testifies,  about  two  months  after  the  report  was 
presented,  realized  to  the  church  $20,000.  It  is  shown  that  there 
was  no  change  of  any  consequence  in  the  value  of  that  property 
during  the  six  months  previous. 

The  present  value  of  No.  525  Greenwich-street,  is  estimated  in 
the  report  at  SI ,375.10 .  Actual  sale  to  Matthias  Clark,  about  a 
week  after  the  report  was  read,  it  proved  to  have  brought  the 
church  $6,000.  It  is  testified  that  there  was  no  variation  in 
value  of  any  consequence  during  the  six  months  previous. 

The  aggregate  net  value  of  the  following  nine  lots,  Nos.  205> 
and  207  Fulton  street,  36  and  48  Vesey  street,  13  and  15  Barclay 
street,  83  Murray  street,  and  18  and  44  Warren  street,  is  given 
in  the  report  as  $105,875.  It  appears  in  the  evidence  that,  pre- 
vious to  the  date  of  the  report,  these  same  nine  lots  had  been 
leased  by  the  corporation,  on  an  aggregate  valuation  of  $209,000. 

Besides  these  cases  of  actual  sale  or  leasing  on  new  valuation^ 
by  Trinity  corporation  itself,  estimates  of  the  whole  landed  estate 
of  the  corporation  have  been  laid  before  your  committee,  made 
under  oath  by  four  men  represented  to  be  of  eminent  ability  and 
long  experience.    The  two  highest  for  the  whole  estate  are  by 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Abner  L,  Ely  and  John  M,  Dodd,  and  tliougli  independently 
made,  yet  almost  exactly. coincide  in  the  aggregate.  Mr.  Ely  is 
the  agent  for  the  Langdon  branch  of  the  Astor  family,  and  is 
employed  or  consulted  by  insurance  offices  to  make  valuations 
for  loans  an  real  estate,  as  indeed  are  also  the  oth^r  three.  Mr. 
Ely's  valuation  for  the  whole  is  $6,103,500,  Mr.  Bodd's  $6,087,- 
050~a  difference  of  only  $16,450;  Mr.  Ritch's  is  $5,431,520; 
the  extreme  difference  between  the  estimates  of  these  appraisers 
being  only  $671,980  in  the  aggregate.  Messrs.  Ely,  Bodd  and 
Ritch,  on  inquiry,  all  testify  their  willingness  to  purchase  at 
their  valuations.  These  valuations,  moreover,  are  made  for  the 
ground  alone,  so  that  no  deduction  is  required  on  account  of 
buildings  which  are  the  property  of  tenants.  The  estimate  of 
Mr.  Aldrich  is  only  partial,  being  for  the  down  town  lots  alone, 
and  differing  but  little  from  that  of  Mr.  Ely.  It  is  not  here 
taken  into  the  account. 

Two  very  considerable  items  of  property  are  to  be  added  to 
those  stated  in  the  report.  The  first  is,  the  bonds  and  mortgages 
which  Trinity  corporation  has  required  from  churches  to  which 
she  has  made  appropriations,  which  bonds  are  drawn  bearing 
interest  from  the  date  of  the  grant.  These  mortgages  now 
amount  to  $319,525.15,  principal;  and  the  interest,  computed  up 
to  January  1st,  1857,  would  amount  to  $252,427.71  additional; 
or  $571,952.89  in  all.  These  mortgages  were  omitted  from 
the  report  J  say  the  vestry,  because  they  were  not  productive  of 
income.  "  They  are  in  reality  only  held,"  says  the  mppliment^  "  to 
secure  to  the  permanent  use  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
of  the  United  States,  the  church  buildings  and  property  upon 
the  security  of  which,  this  body  has  loaned  money  to  other 
church  corporations,  for  their  aid  and  support.  The  vestry  be- 
lieve that  no  measures  have  been  taken  to  foreclose  any  of  such 
mortgages,  or  to  collect  interest  upon  them;"  and  the  comp- 
troller, Mr.  Dunscomb,  in  his  testimony,  says :  "  Like  other 
mortgages,  there  is  a  power  to  loreclose  them,  but  we  never  take 
measures  to  collect  them, — never  have  exercised  the  power." 
And  yet  the  corporation  has  not  only  the  legal  power  to  compel 
payment,  but  that  power  appears  to  have  been  exercised  more 
than  once.    From  the  report  itself  it  appears  that  these  mort- 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


13 


gages  do  not  suffice  to  "secure  to  the  permanent  use  of  the  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  Church"  the  buildings  and  poperty  thus  mort- 
gaged j  for  the  Vande water  street  Church  was  sold,  and  Trinity 
corporation  appropriated  the  proceeds  in  partial  repayment  of  her 
advances.  From  a  report  of  the  corporation  to  the  House  of  As- 
sembly, in  1854,  it  appears  also  that  premises  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  City  Mission  Society,  thus  mortgaged,  were  afterwards 
sold,  and  Trinity  repaid  herself  to  the  amount  of  $8,720.51,  prin- 
cipal, and  Slj420  interest.  Also  in  the  testimony  it  will  be  seen 
that.  In  regard  to  St.  Peter's  Church,  New-York,  the  corporation 
was  tenacious  of  its  legal  rights  both  as  to  principal  and  interest^ 
and  refused  to  waive  them,  even  for  the  benefit  of  a  deeply  em- 
barrassed parish.  Your  committee  do  not  find^  from  the  ^he- 
dule  B  of  these  mortgages  (attached  to  the  supplement^)  that  the 
interest  accruing  on  these  bonds  has  ever  been  remitted  on  re- 
newing the  mortgage,  except  in  one  instance.  In  some  cases  the 
interest  now  amounts  to  more  than  the  principal.  As  these 
mortgages  are  therefore  fully  legal  and  valid,  and  may  at  any 
time  be  foreclosed,  and  are  likely  to  be  satisfied  out  of  the  pro- 
ceeds of  every  such  church  in  case  of  a  sale,  it  seems  but  right 
to  your  committee  that  they  should  not  be  altogether  omitted  in 
a  statement  of  the  property  of  the  corporation. 

Another  item,  never  heretofore  inserted  in  any  report  made  by 
Trinity  Church,  is  her  interest  in  St.  John's-square.  This  is 
stated  in  the  supplement  to  have  been  "an  inadvertent  omission." 
At  the  time  of  making  the  report^  "it  was  not  remembered  that 
the  corporation  retained  any  beneficial  property  in  the  square 
which  might,  under  certain  contingencies,  prove  of  large  value. 
Circumstances  during  the  past  season  having,  however,  brought 
this  beneficial  property  to  the  remembrance  of  the  vestry,  that 
body,  after  much  discussion,  fixed  upon  the  sum  of  $400,000  as 
that  for  which  they  would  sell  the  interest  in  St.  John's-square. 
That  amount  ought,  therefore,  to  be  added  to  the  total  of  the 
property  of  the  corporation. 

It  appears  from  the  supplement  that  of  the  $199,469.41  of 
productive  mortgages,  mentioned  in  the  report,  $31,300  have  been 
paid  in,  and  $59,000  of  new  productive  mortgages  have  been 


14 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


added  since  the  report  was  made.  The  present  amount  of  this 
item  is  therefore  |227,169.41. 

The  report^  after  stating  the  net  value  of  the  land  in  1855 
makes  a  further  reduction  by  reason  of  the  yet  unexpired  leases. 
The  total  amount  of  reductions  on  this  account  is  . $1,222,338. 29. 
Supposing  the  same  amount  of  deduction  to  be  made  from  the 
estimates  laid  before  your  committee,  and  that  the  amount  of  the 
debt  and  the  cash  in  bank  remained  unchanged,  the  true  sum- 
mary of  the  property  of  the  corporation  will  then  appear ,compared 
with  that  in  the  report  as  follows : 

IN  THE  REPORT. 

Real  estate,   |1,446,S71  71 

Bonds  and  mortgages,   199,469  41 

€ash  in  bank  at  the  end  of  the  last  financial  year,  19,399  46 


^1,665,240  58 

Deducting  the  debt,  ,   648,913  00 

Shows  the  whole  net  value  to  be,  $1,016,327  58 


AS  PROVED  TO  YOUR  COMMITTEE. 

Keal  estate  (average  of  the  estimates  of  Messrs.  Ely,  Dodd  and 
Ritch,  omitting  altogether  that  of  Mr.  Aldrich,)  |5,874,023  00 

Productive  bonds  and  mortgages,   227,169  41 

Church  bonds  and  mortgages,  with  interest  to 

January  1st,  1857,   571,952  89 

St.  John's-square,   400,000  00 

Cash  in  bank,   19,399  46 

$7,092,544  76 

D^-duct  on  account  of  leases  yet  to  run  (as  estima- 
ted in  the  report  itself,)  $1,222,338  29 

Debt,   648,913  00 

  1,871,251  29 

Net  total  present  value,   $5,221,293  47 

More  than  five  times  the  net  total  given  in  the  report. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


15 


Or,  if  the  church  bonds  and  the  beneficial  interest  in  St.  John's- 
square  be  deducted,  as  depending  on  uncertain  or  improbable 
coLtingencies  for  their  actual  realization,  the  net  total  of  the 
present  productive  estate  of  Trinity  corporation  will  still  be  $4, 
249,340.58,  which  is  more  than  four  times  the  net  total  given  in 
the  report. 

Fifth  Resolution. 
"  Resolved^  also.  That  said  vestry  report  to  the  Senate  of  this 
State,  in  the  first  week  of  January  next,  a  statement  of  the  num- 
ber of  lots  belonging  to  said  corporation,  the  leases  of  which 
have  expired  within  the  five  years  ending  on  the  first  of  Novem 
ber,  1855,  and  whether  said  lots  have  been  relet  or  have  been 
sold." 

It  appears  from  the  report  that,  during  the  five  years  last  past, 
forty-seven  lots  have  been  relet,  and  one  hundred  and  thirteen  have 
been  sold. 

The  testimony  is  uniform  and  strong  to  the  effect  that  large 
masses  of  leasehold  property  eventually  became  inferior  in  char- 
acter to  property  held  in  fee.  The  improvements  on  the  lease- 
hold property  of  Trinity  corporation  are  generally  cheap  and 
poor,  being  mostly  the  worst  in  the  neighborhood.  Below  Du- 
ane  street,  however,  the  improvements  are  good. 

Thus  far  the  original  resolutions  of  inquiry. 

In  her  report^  however,  Trinity  Church  has  not  confined  herself 
to  merely  giving  the  information  thus  requested,  but  has  volun- 
tarily communicated  a  large  amount  of  information  besides,  con- 
cerning her  grants  to  the  country  churches  as  well  as  in  the  city, 
and  from  the  year  1748  to  the  present  time  ;  in  order  as  the  re- 
port expresses  it,  to  "  lead  to  a  just  estimate  of  the  unvarying 
policy,  govei;ned  by  which  this  corporation  has  from  an  early 
day  continually  dispensed  abroad  the  property  with  which  it 
was  endowed." 

This  opens  a  wide  field;  but  under  the  instruction  of  the  Sen- 
ate to  your  committee  to  examine  not  only  into  the  report  itself, 
but  also  into  ''the  matters  connected  therewith,"  it  is  afield  into 
which  it  is  thus  made  the  duty  ot  your  committee  to  follow,  in 


16 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


order  to  reach, — what  the  vestry  desire  to  set  forth, — "  a  just 
estimate"  of  the  policy  of  the  corporation.  Tor  this  purpose, 
your  committee  condense  as  briefly  as  possible  the  full  amount 
of  information  embodied  in  the  evidence. 

In  1697  the  site  ot  the  parish  church  at  the  head  of  Wall 
street  was  given  by  the  English  crown  for  "  the  use  and  behalf 
of  the  inhabitants  from  time  to  time  inhabiting  and  to  inhabit 
within  our  said  city  of  New-York,  in  communion  of  our  said 
Protestant  Church  of  England,  as  now  established  by  our  laws." 

The  act  of  incorporation  in  the  same  year  made  the  corpora- 
tion to  consist  of  the  rector, '^together  with  all  the  inhabitants 
from  time  to  time  inhabiting  and  to  inhabit  our  said  city  of 
New- York,  and  in  communion  of  our  aforesaid  Protestant  Church 
of  England,  as  now  established  by  our  laws;"  and  the  legal  ti- 
tle of  the  corporation  was  therefore  declared  to  be  :  The  rec- 
tor and  inhabitants  of  our  said  city  of  New-York  in  communion 
of  our  Protestant  Church  of  England,  as  now  established  by  our 
laws." 

The  act  of  the  Colonial  Legislature  of  1704  confirms  the  essen- 
tial powers  of  the  incorporation  by  the  same  title,  adding  the 
words  "and  their  successors." 

The  royal  grant  of  what  is  commonly  called  the  king's  farm, 
(forming  the  bulk  of  the  great  estate  of  Trinity  Church,)  was  made 
to  the  above  incorporated  parish,  under  the  above  corporate  name, 
in  the  year  1705. 

The  Legislature  of  New-York  in  1784  confirmed  all  the 
origiral  powers  of  the  corporation  without  altering  the  corporate 
name,  which,  however,  in  1788,  was  altered  so  as  to  substitute  the 
"  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of  New-York,"  for  the 
"  Protestant  Church  of  England  ;"  and  no  further  legislative 
action  took  effect  until  the  year  1814. 

The  estate  of  Trinity  Church  originally  consisted,  according 
to  the  report^  of  2,068  lots,  of  which,  since  the  year  :?.748,  318 
lots  have  been  given  away — 691  remain,  and  1059,  as  is  inferred, 
have  been  sold,  yet,  owing  to  the  rapid  rise  of  property  in  the 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


17 


city  of  New- York,  the  value  of  the  691  lots  remaining  is  many 
times  greater  than  was  originally  that  of  the  whole  estate. 

Previous  to  the  year  1814,  it  appears  that  the  policy  of  the 
corporation  was  very  liberal  in  making  grants  of  land  A.  large 
landed  endowment  was  given  to  King's  (now  Columbia)  college 
and  to  Trinity  school — institutions  of  learning  in  connection 
with  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  as  well  as  for  several 
other  public  purposes.  In  regard  to  churches,  the  policy  was 
clear  and  well  defined.  Within  the  fifteen  years  before  1814, 
Trinity  had  herself  built  and  set  off,  as  separate  parishes  with  a 
competent  endowment,  three  churches — St.  Mark's,  Grace  and 
St.  George's — besides  giving  several  lots  each  to  every  one  of  the 
other  churches  then  existing  in  the  city  as  well  as  to  a  number 
of  other  clmrches  out  of  the  city  of  New- York. 

With  this  policy  of  landed  endowments,  and  of  building  and 
setting  off  independent  parishes,  thus  firmly  established  aud  thus 
vigorously  and  liberally  carried  out,  doubts  were  nevertheless 
entertained  by  some,  whether  it  were  a  course  which  the  cor- 
poration had  legal  power  to  pursue. 

Application  was  therefore  made,  by  Trinity,  for  the  law  of 
1814 — a  law  which  makes  a  striking  change  in  the  title  of  the 
corporation,  in  the  number  of  the  corporators,  and  in  the  policy 
of  the  vestry. 

That  law  was  asked  for,  on  the  part  of  Trinity^  on  several 
grounds.  As  there  were  now  other  rectors  and  other  incorpo- 
rated churches  in  the  city,  it  was  considered  proper  to  change 
the  title  from  The  Rector  and  inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New- 
York  in  communion  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
State  of  New- York,"  to  "  The  Rector,  Church-wardens  and  Ves- 
trymen of  Trinity  Church  in  the  City  of  New-York." 

As  the  members  of  the  other  parishes  had  the  right  of  voting 
for  their  own  wardens  and  vestrymen,  it  was  desired  that  they 
should  be  excluded  from  the  right  to  vote  for  the  church-war- 
dens and  vestrymen  who  should  administer  the  great  church 
estate.  To  this  exclusion,  the  parishes  then  in  existence  (though 
not  all  the  members  of  them)  were  at  that  time  willing  to  sub- 

2 


18 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


mit,  inasmuch  as  tliey  had  all,  "  without  any  exception,  received 
liberal  donations  of  real  and  personal  estates  from  the  corpora- 
tion of  Trinity  Church,"  and  yet,  so  strong  was  the  feeling 
that  all  "  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New- York,  in  commun- 
ion of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,"  had  a  chartered  inter- 
est in  that  estate,  that  the  very  law,  which  excludes  all  from 
voting  except  members  ot  Trinity  parish,  ends  with  the  proviso : 
"  Provided  always,  that  nothing  in  this  act  contained  shall  be 
construed  to  affect  or  defeat  the  right  of  any  person  or  persons, 
or  of  any  body  corporate,  to  the  estate,  real  or  personal,  now 
held,  occupied  or  enjoyed  by  the  corporation  of  Trinity  Church  :" 
a  provisio  which  proves  the  right  to  exist,  while  nevertheless  it 
is  made  an  empty  abstraction  by  the  previous  exclusion  from 
the  right  to  vote,  by  which  alone  the  right  of  properJ;y  could  be 
enforced. 

The  III,  IV  and  V  sections  of  that  law,  forming  the  most 
voluminous  and  prominent  part  of  it,  are  wholly  devoted  to  the 
confirming  of  the  past,  and  giving  increased  powers  for  the 
future  carrying  out  the  then  well-established  policy  of  the  cor- 
poration, in  promoting  the  growth  of  the  church,  by  building, 
setting  off,  and  endowing  new  churches  with  landed  property 
enough  to  make  them  independent.  Section  III  therefore  de- 
clares valid  all  such  grants  and  conveyances  heretofore  made, 
or  that  hereafter  may  be  made.  Section  IV  confirms  the  validity 
of  the  setting-off  of  St.  George's  Chapel,  recognizing  its  full 
right  to  the  endow^ment  it  had  received  from  Trinity,  as  w^ell  as 
the  consequent  exclusion  of  its  members  from  any  further  right 
to  vote  for  church- wardens  and  vestrymen  in  Trinity  parish. 
Section  V  provides  for  the  future  further  subdivision  of  Trinity 
parish,  dividing  the  congregation  or  corporators,  by  setting 
apart,  as  a  separate  church,  any  of  the  churches  or  chapels 
belonging  to  the  parish  (with  the  consent  of  those  to  be  set  off), 
and,  after  incorporation,  gives  such  new  parish  full  power  to 
receive  from  Trinity  "  any  grant,  conveyance  or  gift  of  any 
chapel,  or  other  real  or  personal  estate  for  its  separate  use." 

And  as  an  inducement  to  the  Legislature  to  pass  this  act  of 
1814,  Col.  Troup,  who  appears  to  have  acted  throughout  as  the 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH.  19 

authorized  agent  of  Trinity  Church  in  procuring  its  passage,  de- 
clared to  the  Council  of  Revision :  "  Judging  from  the  past,  it 
is  morally  certain  that  the  future  increase  of  the  population  of 
the  city  will  strongly  recommend  to  the  corporation  of  Trinity 
Church  the  policy  of  dividing  its  corporators,  and  setting  them 
off  in  separate  churches,  with  suitable  endowments,  and  to  enable 
the  vestry  to  do  this  in  a  mode  free  from  all  legal  doubts,  *  *  ^• 
is  a  fifth  object  of  the  bill."  And  again  he  says:  "The  bill, 
when  passed  into  law,  would  have  the  happy  consequence  of 
enabling  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  from  time  to  time,  as 
society  shall  advance,  to  separate  the  churches,  with  the  consent 
of  their  congregations,  and  to  endow  them  with  competent 
estates.  No  power  can  be  more  congenial  than  this  to  the  spirit 
of  our  republican  system.  The  frequent  execution  of  the  power, 
likewise,  by  breaking  down  the  estate  of  Trinity  Church,  would 
allay  the  fears  of  those  honest  republicans  who  look  upon  large 
estates  as  nurseries  of  sentiments  hostile  to  liberty,  and  it  would 
calm  the  minds  of  those  enthusiastic  devotees  who  believe  that 
religious  societies,  when  possessing  wealth,seldom  employ  enough 
of  it  in  the  heavenly  work  of  propagating  the  gospel.'* 

Under  these  inducements,  and  because  the  law  appeared  only 
to  embody  and  perfect  what  had  notoriously  been  long  the  estab- 
lished policy  of  the  corporation,  the  bill,  passed  both  houses. 
The  other  parishes  of  the  city,  having  received  a  share  of  "  real 
and  personal  estate,"  were  silent ;  but  a  strong  remonstrance 
against  the  law,  as  being  unjust,  was  made  by  a  number  of  mem- 
bers of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  city  of  New-York, 
and  serious  doubts  were  felt  as  to  the  constitutionality  of 
disfranchising  a  majority  of  those  who,  by  the  charter,  were 
entitled  to  a  beneficial  interest  in  the  property.  The  Council  of 
Revision  was  equally  divided — three  against  three.  One  of  the 
three  who  voted  for  it  was  the  late  Chancellor  Kent,  who,  as 
appears  in  the  evidence,  afterwards  became  satisfied  that  the  law 
was  unconstitutional,  and  repeatedly  expressed  his  opinion  to 
that  effect.  As  it  was,  it  became  a  law  by  lapse  of  time,  without 
ever  receiving  the  approval  of  the  Executive. 


20  REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 

The  policy  of  parochial  independence  and  landed  endowment 
being  thus  embodied  in  the  law,  the  record  of  the  gifts  and 
grants  of  the  corporation  will  show^  us  the  manner  in  which  it 
was  carried  into  effect.  It  appears  that,  of  the  146  lots  that 
have  been  given  to  churches,  137  were  given  before  1814,  and 
only  9  since.  Of  the  172  lots  given  to  other  purposes,  162  w^ere 
given  before  1814,  and  only  10  since.  Thus,  in  all  of  the  318 
lots  of  land,  (which  is  all  that  Trinity  has  ever  given,  from  the 
beginning  to  the  present  day),  299  were  granted  before  the  law 
of  1814,  and  only  19  since.  And  for  the  last  twenty  years  no 
land  has  been  given  at  all  for  any  purpose,  except  the  five  burial 
plots  in  the  cemetery  mentioned  above. 

The  policy  of  landed  endowment,  which  the  law  of  1814 
was  asked  for  to  facilitate,  thus  appears  to  have  been  almost 
immediately  given  up,  and  has  now  for  a  long  time  been  totally 
abandoned. 

A  similar  contrast  is  found  in  other  points.  It  was  urged,  as 
"  morally  certain,"  that  the  corporators  would  be  divided,  and 
chapels  of  Trinity  set  off  in  separate  churches,  with  suitable  en- 
dowments, but  the  corporators  have  never  since  been  divided, 
nor  has  any  church  or  chapel  been  set  otf.  The  frequent  execu- 
tion of  this  power,"  it  was  represented,  would  "  break  down," 
the  estate  of  Trinity  Church;  but  as  it  has  never  since  been  ex- 
ecuted at  all,  the  estate  remains  unbroken.  The  sales  of  lots 
have, indeed,  reduced  the  geographical  area  of  her  lands;  but 
the  rise  of  property  has  made  the  present  residue  w^orth  many 
times  as  much  as  the  whole  of  the  original  King's  farm.  The 
estate  cf  the  corporation  has  therefore  been  steadily,  and  of  late 
years  very  rapidly,increasing  in  value,  instead  of  being  "  broken 
down." 

The  other  great  object  of  the  original  policy  of  Trinity  corpo- 
ration, as  embodied  in  the  law  of  1814,  was  as  has  been  shown, 
the  ecouraging  the  formation  of  new  and  independent  parishes; 
the  endow^ment  in  land  being,  in  fact,  only  a  means  to  that  end. 
Instead  of  land,  Trinity  has  indeed  continued  to  contribute  to 
other  parishes,  but  it  has  been  wholly  in  the  way  of  pecuniary 
grants,  made  either  in  specific  sums  or  in  annual  appropriations 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


21 


terminable  at  the  pleasure  of  the  vestry.  And  in  order  to  obtain 
money  to  bestow  in  this  way,  more  than  half  the  original  estate 
has  been  sold.  The  effect  of  this  system,  as  appears  from  the 
evidence,  has  been  to  injure,  instead  of  promoting  the  independ- 
ence of  the  parishes  thus  aided.  The  sums  of  money  were  in 
most  cases  soon  spent,  and  were  followed  by  an  application  for 
more.  The  possibility  of  a  stopping  of  the  annual  stipend  would, 
indeed,  naturally  have  a  tendency  to  produce  as  great  a  reliance 
upon  Trinity  for  opinions,  as  for  pecuniary  support  ;  especially 
when  it  is  viewed  in  connection  with  the  evidence  of  strong  par- 
tizanship  in  making  the  grants,  which  is  given  in  such  decided 
terms  by  many  of  the  witnesses,  and  strongly  corroborated  by  the 
striking  disproportion  in  the  grants  themselves,  as  stated  in  the 
report.  Annual  allowances  are  now  made  to  no  less  than  thirty- 
eight  parishes,  amounting  in  all  to  $16,875  a  year. 

Again  :  at  or  before  the  year  1834,  there  appears  to  have  been 
developed  another  feature  of  this  new  policy,  as  bearing  upon 
parochial  independence,  and  this  was,  the  regarding  these  money 
grants  as  loans,  and,  as  a  consequence  from  this,  the  requiring  in 
return  a  bond  and  mortgage  on  the  church  edifice  of  the  parish 
thus  aided,  drawing  interest  from  date.  This  mortgaging  with 
interest  is  represented  in  the  supplement,  as  only  done  in  order 
to  secure  such  buildings  to  the  permanent  use  of  the  church;  and 
it  is  added,  that  the  interest  is  never  demanded  or  paid,  nor  are 
such  mortgages  ever  forclosed;  but  it  is  acknowldged  that  the 
vestry  has  full  legal  power  to  do  both« 

There  are  now  sixty-six  parishes  incumbered  with  these 
mortgages  and  accumulated  interest,  to  the  gross  amount  of 
nearly  $600,000,  all  held  by  Trinity  church,  and  they  can 
hardly  be  considered  in  any  other  light  than  as  mortgages  upon 
that  very  independence  which  it  was  one  object  of  the  law  of 
1814  to  secure. 

Nor  is  even  this  all,  for  the  aid  of  Trinity,  when  given  as  an 
annual  appropriation  or  pension,  or  on  mortgage,  has  been 
regarded,  not  as  the  administration  ot  a  trust  for  the  benefit  of 
those  to  whom  it  belonged  by  the  charter,  nor  yet  as  a  loan  on 


22 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


good  securityj  but  rather  as  a  pure  gratuity,  "a  bounty,''  an  act 
of  "munificence,"  for  wliicli  due  ''gratitude"  was  expected  ever 
after;  a  mode  of  regarding  the  subject  liable  to  interfere  still 
further  with  the  independence  of  those  thus  aided.  The  weight 
of  this  sense  of  obligation  has  been  still  further  increased  by  the 
frequency  and  facility  with  which  applications  have  been  refused 
and  the  ungracious  and  wearisome  reluctance  with  which  grants 
are  obtained  when  obtained  at  all. 

The  result  has  been,  that  so  far  as  the  influence  of  Trinity  has 
been  able  to  make  itself  felt,  the  provisions  of  the  law  of  1814, 
for  securing  the  independence  of  the  parishes,  seems  to  have 
been  as  completely  frustrated  as  those  intended  to  facilitate  en- 
dowments in  land. 

The  increase  of  population  in  the  city  of  New-York,  it  was 
urged  by  the  vestry,  through  Col.  Troup,  made  it  "morally  cer- 
tain" that  Trinity  would  carry  out  the  liberal  policy  embodied 
in  that  law.  The  population  of  the  city  has  indeed  increased 
from  105,000  in  1814  to  629,850  in  1855;  but  the  corporators 
have  not  yet  been  divided,  nor  any  church  or  chapel  built  and 
set  off  or  endowed.  One  expensive  pewed  chapel  has  been,  in- 
deed, lately  built  for  Trinity  parish  itself  in  one  of  the  weal- 
thiest portions  of  the  city  and  in  the  neighborhood  of  several 
other  churches.  The  wards  inhabited  mainly  by  the  working 
classes,  however,  appear  to  have  been  almost  totally  neglected. 
In  the  4th,  6th,  13th  and  14th  wards,  with  a  population  of  100,- 
499  souls,  there  is  not  a  single  Episcopal  church.  The  8th, 
11th  and  16th  wards,  with  a  population  of  128,626  souls,  have 
each  but  one  Episcopal  church;  and  there  are  not  in  those 
wards  missions  or  other  arrangements  of  any  kind  for  religious 
instruction  by  Episcopalians;  nor  does  Trinity  Church  employ 
any  clergyman  as  missionary  at  large  anywhere  throughout  the 
whole  extent  of  the  city.  One  of  the  witnesses,  a  parish  clergy- 
man, speaks  of  the  spiritual  destitution  of  the  northwestern  por- 
tion of  the  city  as  "awful,"  and  tells  us  that  a  communication 
to  Trinity  vestry  from  responsible  persons  concerning  a  most 
noble  proposal  to  remedy  it,  never  received  the  slightest  atten- 
tion that  he  was  aware  of.    The  increase  of  the  city  population 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


23 


!ias  been  some  200,000  souls  during  the  last  ten  years  alone,  and 
yet  tho  increase  of  church  accommodation  for  the  poor  is  testi- 
fied to  be  "  very  inconsiderable." 

Trinity,  it  appears,  has  never  built  any  church  for  the  work- 
ing classes,  or  in  those  parts  of  the  city  chiefly  inhabited  by 
them;  nay,  during  the  past  lew  years,  it  seems  that  three 
churches  situated  in  districts  almost  wholly  inhabited  by  the 
working  classes,  or  those  still  more  destitute,  have  been  lost  to 
the  Episcopal  church  in  those  localities.  Of  these,  the  two 
down  town  were  Zion  on  the  Five  Points,  sold  to  the  Romanists; 
and  the  old  Christ  church  in  Anthony-street,  sold  for  secular 
uses;  nor  has  any  elfort  yet  been  made  by  Trinity  to  supply 
their  place.  The  third,  St.  Matthew's,  though  surrounded  by 
landed  estate  of  Trinity  corporation,  and  the  first  free  church 
ever  founded  in  the  city  of  New-York  by  individual  liberality, 
has  at  length ,  after  in  vain  laying  its  wants  before  Trinity  vestry 
for  six  months,  been  reconveyed  to  the  donor,  and  is  now  shut 
up  and  offered  for  sale  :  and  in  another  case,  where  a  clergyman, 
who  not  only  serves  his  OAvn  parish  without  salary,  but  pays 
largely  beside  towards  its  necessary  expenses,  offered  to  give, 
himself,  two-thirds  of  the  cost  for  a  new  free  church  and  church 
schools,  in  a  most  destitute  portion  of  the  city,  if  Trinity  would 
give  the  other  third,  the  offer  was  left  for  a  year  and  a  half 
unnoticed ;  and  though  renewed  in  a  differrent  shape  a  year  ago, 
it  has  even  as  yet  received  no  further  attention,  except  to  be 
unanimously  reported  against  by  the  standing  committee,  to 
whom,  of  course,  it  was  referred.  It  is  added,  that  the  reason 
given  by  individual  members  for  this  refusal,  is  the  want  of 
present  pecuniary  ability  on  the  part  of  the  vestry.  Meanwhile 
of  the  few  free  churches  which  actually  afford  some  small 
accommodation  to  the  working  classes,  the  greater  part  are  stated 
to  be  but  small,  inferior  buildings,  and  feebly  supported.  The 
new  policy  of  Trinity  corporation  has  therefore  disappointed  the 
authoritative  representation  of  Colonel  Troup,  that  it  would 
make  the  Episcopal  church  keep  pace  with  the  increasing  popu- 
lation of  the  city,  as  completely  as  it  has  frustrated  the  wise  and 
liberal  provisions  for  parochial  independence  by  means  of  a 
competent  endowment  in  land. 


24 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Tlie  evidence  shows  that  another  evil  has  arisen  out  of  this 
failure  on  the  part  of  Trinity  Church  to  fulfil  the  pledges  under 
which  she  obtained  the  law  of  1814.  The  wealthy  and  liberal 
Episcopalians  in  the  city,  who  give  freely  to  other  objects^  will 
not  relieve  Trinity  from  her  responsibility,  by  doing  her  duty  at 
their  own  expense;  and  thus  little  or  nothing  is  done,  and  the 
influence  of  Trinity  succeeds  in  effectually  preventing  that  very 
growth  to  which  the  law  of  1814  gave  her  new  powers  in  order 
to  promote. 

Nor  does  it  seem  that  a  policy  so  injurious  to  the  rest  of  the 
city  has  been  really  of  advantage  to  Trinity  parish  itself.  Its 
congregations  have  indeed  had  two  new  churches  built  forthemy 
at  a  cost  of  over  $600,000,  the  whole  of  which  appears  to  have 
been  paid  from  the  corporation  estate. 

But  their  own  active  liberality  and  zeal  have  been  so  far 
weakened,  that  their  four  congregations  united  do  less,  as  is  tes- 
tified, than  some  single  independent  congregation  in  the  same 
city,  with  little  or  no  endowment.  And  even  the  administra- 
tion of  the  vast  and  growing  estate  itself^  seems  to  be  affected  by 
the  same  general  torpor.  There  is  so  little  interest  in  tlie  vestry 
elections,  that  in  eight  out  of  the  past  ten  years,  an  average  of 
hardly  one  in  ten  of  the  corporators  cared  to  appear;  and,  on 
one  occasion,  only  23  persons  voted  for  the  22  wardens  and 
vestrymen.  The  same  characteristic  apathy  appears  to  extend 
even  to  the  action  of  the  vestry  itself,  where  nearly  everything 
is  left  to  a  standing  committee  of  six,  with  the  comptroller  and 
clerk;  and  a  vestryman  not  a  member  of  that  particular  com- 
mittee seems  to  know  little  or  nothing  of  the  business  or  state  of 
affairs  of  the  corporation.  An  annual  statement  of  the  affairs  is 
indeed  made  by  this  committee,  of  late  years,  and  is  left  in  manu- 
script at  the  olfice  for  the  inspection  of  such  of  the  vestrymen  as 
may  wish  to  see  it;  and  a  committee  of  vestrymen,  not  members 
of  the  standing  committee,  is  appointed  to  examine  this  annual 
statement;  but  in  so  doing,  as  is  testified  by  a  vestryman  who 
has  gerved  on  such  examining  committee,  they  are  permitted  to 
inspect  only  such  of  the  books  of  the  corporation  as  are  referred 
to  in  the  statement  itself.    The  statement  is  never  printed,  the 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  THINITV  CHUHCH. 


25 


vestry  thinking  it  "  not  worth  while  and  the  corporatorsj  of 
course,  appear  to  know  nothing  about  it. 

It  is  no  wonder  that,  in  such  a  state  of  things^  the  question 
Do  you  think  that  Trinity  Church  has  done  its  utmost  to  make 
the  capital  of  the  property  of  that  corporation  available  for  the 
founding  or  support  or  promotion  of  religious,  charitable  or  edu- 
cational institutions  or  purposes  should  be  answered,  as  it  has 
been  by  every  witness  asked,  with  a  decisive  "  No  or,  with  a 
negative,  half  veiled  in  such  careful  qualifications  as  only  make 
its  meaning  more  pointed.  And  it  is  no  wonder  that  the  policy 
of  the  corporation  and  its  results  are,  as  they  are  testified  to  be, 
the  subject  of  general  complaint  among  Episcopalians. 

Your  committee  would  present  yet  one  more  point  of  contrast 
between  the  results  of  the  new  policy  and  the  old.  The  old 
policy  gave  to  Columbia  College  its  magnificent  landed  endow- 
ments ;  gave  to  Trinity  school  the  larger  part  of  its  rich  estate  ; 
did  the  same  for  St.  Mark's,  Grace,  and  St.  George's  churches  5 
as  also  for  the  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Religion  and 
Learning,  which  is  now  wealthy  from  its  land  ;  and  a  similar 
result  has  followed  the  many  smaller  endotvments  of  land  to 
other  churches.  All  this  permanent  and  growing  good  was  ac- 
complished  by  giving  away  only  318  lots.  In  carrying  out  the 
other  policy,  1059  lots  have  been  sold — -more  than  three  times 
as  many  as  sufficed  for  all  those  splendid  endowments  put  to- 
gether ;  and  the  result  of  this  alienation  of  more  than  half  of  the 
original  estate  has  been  to  promote  dependency,  feebleness  and 
deadness,  to  the  degree  which  has  been  testified.  Nor  in  a 
merely  pecuniary  point  of  view  is  it  any  better.  For  while 
Trinity  herself  estimates  the  present  value  of  those  318  lots  to 
be,  to  those  now  holding  them,  at  least  a  million  and  a  half,  her 
own  report  sets  down  the  aggregate  of  all  the  pecuniary  grants 
and  stipends  paid  out  of  the  sale  of  the  1059  lots  as  only  a  trifle 
over  one  million  (|1, 007,530.83.)  And  time  will  make  the  318 
yet  more  valuable,  with  each  year  ;  while  the  latter  is  for  the 
most  part  gone  already,  leaving  only  those  "  unproductive 
mortgages,  on  interest  "  behind. 


26 


HEPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


It  will  be  seen  that  there  is  no  question  raised  in  regard  to 
the  personal  integrity,  and  no  impeachment  of  the  purity  of  per- 
sonal motive,  of  any  member  of  that  corporation.  Your  com* 
mittee  have  merely,  from  the  evidence  before  them,  drawn  an 
outline  of  the  policy  of  the  corporation,  as  embodied  in  its  own 
acts  before  and  since  the  law"  of  1814.  And  they  find  that  "  a 
just  estimate  of  that  policy  is,  not  that  it  has  been  "unvarying," 
as  the  report  claims  in  its  behalf,  but  so  completely  changed  as 
to  be  the  opposite  of  that  which  it  once  was,  and  which  it  prom- 
ised to  continue  to  be.  Instead  of  being  "  unvarying,"  therefore, 
it  has  simply  been  reversed. 

There  is  one  part  of  the  law  of  1814  which  has  not  yet  been 
referred  to.  It  has  been  seen  that  the  great  majority  of  Episco- 
palians in  the  city  of  New-York,  have  been  excluded  from  all 
vote  or  voice  in  the  management  of  this  great  estate;  and  that 
no  report  is  ever  made,  even  to  the  corporators  of  Trinity  par- 
ish, or  the  beneficiaries  under  the  trust.  It  is  well  known  that 
the  convention  of  the  Episcopal  diocese  of  New-York  is  purely 
an  ecclesiastical  body,  having  no  power  to  inquire  into  the 
management  of  the  temporalities  of  any  parish,  and  it  does 
not  appear  that  any  knowledge  of  its  affairs,  which  exists  even 
among  its  own  corporators,  is  derived  except  from  the  printed 
reports  made  to  resolutions  of  enquiry  passed  by  one  or  the 
other  of  the  Houses  of  the  Legislature.  The  Legislature,  then, 
being  the  only  body  where  responsibility  can  be  clothed  with 
practical  effect,  there  is  meaning  in  the  following  portion  of  the 
last  section  of  the  law  of  1814  :  ".^nd  he  it  further  enacted^  That 
in  every  case  where  a  church  or  religious  society,  which  has 
been  or  may  be  duly  incorporated,  shall  have  exhibited  such 
account  and  inventory  as  is  specified  in  the  ninth  section* 
cf  the  act  entitled  '  An  act  to  provide  for  the  incorporation 
of  religious  societies,'  it  shall  not  be  necessary  for  such  church 
or  society  again  to  exhibit  any  account  and  inventory,  unless 
the  said  church  or  society,  subsequent  to  such  exhibition, 
shall  have  purchased  or  acquired  any  lands,  tenements  or 
hereditaments  within  this  State,  any  act,  law  or  usage  to 

*  The  10th  section  of  the  law  as  revised  and  re-enacted  in  1813. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


27 


the  contrary  notwithstanding."  Your  committee  suppose  that 
it  is  in  implied  reliance  upon  this  provision  of  the  law 
of  1814  that  the  corporation,  in  its  report,  complains  so  griev- 
ously of  your  resolutions  of  inquiry.  It  does  not  "  acknow- 
ledge the  power  of  the  Senate  to  exact  such  information  ; " 
declares  that  such  requisition  "is  not  justified  by  any  legal 
principle,  and  is  oppressive  of  this  corporation,"  and  "an  as- 
sumption of  the  powers  of  the  courts."  The  vestry  add,  that 
they  "  have  found  the  answer  to  these  repeated  requirements 
expensive  and  onerous,  and  believe  them  to  be  an  infringement 
of  the  chartered  rights  of  Trinity  church  ; "  and  they  humbly 
protest  against  the  right  of  the  Legislature,  or  either  branch  of 
it,  to  call  for  reports  from  this  vestry  relative  to  the  condition 
or  alfairs  of  this  corporation."  The  above  quoted  section  of 
the  law  of  1814,  would  indeed  excuse  the  corporation  from 
making  any  additional  account  or  inventory  ;  no  additional  pro- 
perty having  been  purchased  since  the  report  of  1854  was  made. 
Yet  reference  is  made  in  the  report,  to  "  chartered  rights,"  but 
not  to  this  law  of  1814.  And  it  is  a  remarkable  peculiarity  of 
the  report  and  supplement,  as  well  as  the  previous  reports  of 
1846  and  1854,  and  other  publications  emanating  from  Trinity 
church  (all  of  which  have  been  consulted  by  your  committee,  as 
of  the  highest  authority  in  behalf  of  the  corporation),  that  in  not 
one  of  them  all  is  there  the  slightest  allusion  to  the  law  of  1814, 
or  any  hint  that  any  such  law  was  ever  passed. 

But  though  this  section  of  that  law  was  evidently  intended  to 
relieve  the  corporation  from  making  any  further  report  of  its 
affairs,  yet  your  committee  are  of  the  opinion  that  it  can  hardly 
bind  this  Legislature,  w^hen  the  very  object  of  the  inquiry,  is  to 
ascertain  whether  the  other  provisions  of  that  same  law  have 
been  fairly  carried  out.  And  in  view  of  the  true  state  of  facts, 
as  now  drawn  forth  by  this  inquiry,  namely,  that  only  those  parts 
of  that  law  have  been  actually  put  in  use  which  conferred  upon 
the  corporation  the  power  to  reverse  the  policy  embodied  in  the 
remainder,  and  thereby  to  sacrifice  everything  promised.  In  order 
to  carry  out  the  only  possibility  which  had  heen  expressly  dis- 
claimed when  the  law  was  asked  for.  In  this  state  of  the  facts, 
w^hich  are  thus  made  apparent,  it  seems  but  a  natural  conse- 


28  REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 

quence  tliat  the  complaint  and  protest  of  the  report  disappear 
altogether  in  the  supplement. 

Your  committee  do  not  charge  that,  in  obtaining  the  law  of 
1814  under  the  representations  employed  for  that  purpose,  the 
corporation  were  guilty  of  deliberate  and  premeditated  fraud  in 
setting  forth  inducements  which  they  never  intended  to  realize; 
for  there  is  no  doubt  that,  both  in  obtaining  the  law  and  in  sub- 
sequently altering  their  policy,  the  members  of  the  corporation 
were  actuated  by  their  h  .nest  convictions  as  to  what  was  best 
for  the  interests  of  the  church,  as  they  understood  them;  and 
doubtless  believed  that  the  success  of  the  section  to  which  the 
vestry  belonged,  and  the  carrying  of  the  measures  in  which  it 
was  interested,  was  of  more  consequence  to  the  ultimate  good  of 
the  church,  than  any  incidental  evil  resulting  from  the  change. 
But  thus  much  your  committee  feel  bound  to  say,  that,  if  there 
had  been  any  such  fraudulent  intention  to  obtain  power  under 
that  law,  in  order  to  defeat  the  very  ends  which  it  proposed  to 
secure,  your  committee  cannot  see  that  it  would  have  been 
necessaiy  for  the  corporation,  in  that  case,  to  alter  in  any  respect 
that  which  has  been  their  actual  coitrse^  in  order  to  carry  out 
such  fraudulent  intention  with  entire  success. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  terms  of  the  original  grant  of 
the  estate  of  Trinity  Church  stated  it  to  be  for  the  benefit  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New-York  in  communion  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church.  It  appears  from  the  report  that  a  very  large 
aggregate  of  grants  has  been  made  for  the  benefit  of  churches, 
individuals  and  institutions  out  of  the  city  of  New-York.  Yet 
your  committee  have  heard  no  complaint  of  any  such  appropria- 
tion. On  the  contraty,  all  the  witnesses  testifying  are  unanimous 
in  denying  that  even  the  wish  exists,  in  the  city,  to  diminish  or 
prevent  the  grants  made  for  the  aid  of  churches  in  the  country. 
The  evidence  shows  that  those  who  complain  most  deeply  of  the 
policy  of  the  corporation  in  other  respects,  are  themselves  liberal 
with  their  own  means  in  aiding  the  poorer  churches  in  the  rural 
districts;  and  their  only  regret  is,  not  that  Trinity  does  so  much 
for  the  country,  but  that  she  does  not  do  more,  both  for  the 
country  and  the  city  out  of  her  abundant  and  rapidly  increasing 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


29 


means;  instead  of  holding  tlie  estate,  in  mass,  for  steady  accu- 
mulation. 

The  committee  consider  that  their  duty  terminates  by  placing 
before  the  Senate  in  this  report  the  prominent  and  important 
parts  of  the  testimony,  and  in  submitting  the  documents  re- 
ceived during  the  investigation,  with  all  the  testimony  they  have 
taken;  which  is  now  respectfully  submitted,  for  such  action  by 
the  Legislature  as  the  importance  of  the  interests  involved  may 
be  supposed  to  require. 

M.  SPENCER, 
JAMES  NOXON, 
J.  H.  RAMSEY, 

Select  Committee. 


EXHIBIT  C. 


New- York,  Nov.  29,  1856. 

Jo  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Churchy  in  the  City  of  JYew-York: 

Sirs. — On  the  19th  of  February  last  you  caused  to  be  presen- 
ted, to  the  Senate  of  the  State  of  New-York,  a  communication, 
in  reply  to  a  resolution  passed  by  that  body  on  the  13th  of 
April,  1855.  That  communication  was  referred  by  the  Senate  to 
the  undersigned,  as  a  special  committee. 

The  Senate  subsequently,  by  resolution,  authorized  the  select 
committee,  to  whom  had  been  tlius  referred  the  said  report  of 
Trinity  Church,  to  examine  into  the  matters  connected  therewith 
during  the  recess,  and  to  report  to  the  next  Legislature. 

In  pursuance  of  such  reference  and  authority,  and  in  dis- 
charge of  the  duties  thus  devolved  upon  them,  the  committee 
will  meet  on  Tuesday  the  2nd  day  of  December  next,  at  10 
o'clock  A.M.,  at  the  rooms  of  the  committee,  in  the  Bank  of  Com- 
merce buildings,  in  Nassau  street,  opposite  the  Post  Office,  in  this 
city;  and  at  the  same  hour  and  place  on  each  succeeding  day 
(Sundays  excepted),  until  the  said  examination  shall  be  com- 
pleted. 

Should  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  desire  to  present,  to  the 
committee,  any  statement  or  explanation  in  regard  to  any  of  the 
matters  referred  to  them,  the  committee  will  aftbrd  them  an  op- 
portunity of  doing  so,  at  the  place  above  mentioned,  and  at 
any  time  during  the  said  examination,  that  may  be  most  agreea- 
ble to  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church. 

We  are,  sirs,  respectfully. 

Your  obedient  servants, 


EXHIBIT  D. 

Office  of  the  Corporation  of  Trinity  Church,  ? 
JVo,  187  Fulton  street ,  JYew-York,  Dec.  2,1856.  J 

To  the  Hon.  M.  Spencer ^  James  Moxon  and 

Joseph  H.  Ramsey^  Special  Committee  of  the  Senate: 

Gentlemen — I  duly  received  your  communication  of  the  29th 
ult.,  addressed  "  to  the  vestry  of  Trinity  cliurch  in  city  of  New- 
York,"  saying  you  intended  to  meet  this  day,  and  on  each  suc- 
ceeding day,  to  examine  the  matters  of  its  report  to  the  Senate 
in  February  last,  and  that  should  the  vestry  desire  to  present  to 
the  committee  any  statement  or  explanation  in  regard  to  the 
matters  of  the  report  referred  to  it,  the  committee  would  afford 
them  an  opportunity  of  doing  so. 

If  the  committee  will  be  pleased  to  communicate  to  me  for 
the  vestry,  what  statement  or  explanation  it  wants  in  regard  to 
any  of  the  matters  contained  in  the  report,  I  will  feel  it  my  duty 
to  submit  the  same,  and  doubt  not  they  will  cheerfully  and 
promptly  furnish  the  requisite  statement  or  explanation  to  the 
committee. 

I  am  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

WM.  E.  DUNSCOMB, 

Comptroller y  ^c. 


EXHIBIT  E. 

New- York,  2d  Dec,  1856. 
To  the  Vestrymen  of  Trinity  Churchy  in  the  city  of  JYew-York: 

Gentlemen — In  reply  to  yours  of  this  morning,  the  committee 
have  to  say  that,  they  desire  the  information  required  under  the 
resolutions  of  the  Senate  of  April  13,  1855,  in  reference  to  the 
names  of  the  persons  entitled  under  an  act  to  alter  the  name  of 
the  corporation  of  Trinity  church,  and  for  other  purposes,  passed 
January  15,  1814,  to  vote  at  the  annual  election  f(»r  church  war- 
dens and  vestrymen  of  the  present  corporation  of  Trinity  church; 
specifying  those  who  vote  as  communicants,  and  those  who  vote 
as  pew  holders  in  the  said  church ;  and  the  names  of  the  persons 
who  did  actually  vote  at  each  of  the  three  last  annual  elections, 
held  for  the  choice  of  church-wardens  and  vestrymen  of  said 
corporation;  also  whether  the  corporation  of  Trinity  church 
have  any  additional  mortgages  or  securities,  besides  those  set  forth 
in  their  last  report  to  the  Senate;  if  so, a  schedule  showing  names 
of  mortgagors,  amount  secured  and  unpaid,  and  when  given. 
Also  the  real  value  of  each  lot  or  parcel  of  land,  owned  by  said 
corporation,  irrespective  of  the  leases  thereon. 

Very  respectfully,  etc., 

M.  SPENCER, 
J.  NOXON, 
J.  H.  RAMSEY, 
[Copy.]  Committee. 


EXHIBIT  F. 

Office  of  the  corporation  of  Trinity  Church,  ? 
(A.  No.  1.)  JVew-York,  Jipril  —  Ji.  D.,  1855.  5 

Received  from  Charles  H.  Clayton,  the  sum  of  sixty-four  dol- 
lars, to  and  for  the  use  of  the  corporation  styled  "  The  Rector, 
Church-wardens,  and  Vestrymen  of  Trinity  church,  in  the  city 
of  New-York,"  for  and  in  consideration  of  which  the  said  corpo- 
ration doth,  by  these  presents,  grant  and  assign,  to  him  and  to 
his  family,  at  the  times,  and  upon  the  occasions,  mentioned  in 
the  schedule  hereto  annexed,  for  the  term  commencing  on  the 
first  Sunday  after  Easter,  in  this  present  year,  and  continuing  to 
and  including  Easter  day  in  the  next  year,  and  no  longer,  the 
use  and  easement  of  the  seat,  slip,  or  pew,  being  in  the  chapel 
of  the  said  corporation,  erected  between  West  25th  and  West 
26th  streets,  near  to  the  Eioadway  in  said  city,  called  Trinity 
chapel;  such  seat,  slip,  or  pew,  being  numbered  one,  and  sit- 
uated on  the  east  aisle^  west  side. 

It  being  expressly  understood,  that  such  use  or  easement  is 
subject  to  the  regulations,  and  upon  the  terms  and  conditions  set 
forth  in  the  said  schedule  heretofore  annexed. 

W  E.  DUNSCOMB,  Comptroller. 

Schedule 

Of  regulations  respecting  the  pews  in  Trinity  chapel^  and  of  the 
terms  and  conditions  of  the  letting  referred  to  in  the  above  memo- 
randum^ and  to  he  taken  as  part  thereof : 

I  The  privilege,  or  right,  granted  by  the  above  memoranaum 
shall  not  be  assigned. 

II.  The  exclusive  right,  or  privilege,  above  granted  shall  be 
claimed  and  enjoyed  at  and  upon  the  following  times  and  occa- 
sions only,  that  is  to  say :  The  ordinary  morning  and  afternoon 

3 


34 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


services  of  every  Snndaj  in  the  year,  Christmas  day^  Good  Fri- 
day, Accension  day,  and  Thanksgiving  day,  and  upon  no  other 
day,  and  at  no  other  times  of  those  days^  and  upon  no  occasion 
of  Divine  service  at  night, 

III.  After  the  expiration  of  the  term  for  which  the  privilege 
or  right  within  mentioned  has  been  granted,  that  is  to  say,  on 
one  of  the  three  last  days  of  Easter  Week,  in  the  year  18.56,  the 
same  privilege  or  right  for  another  term,  cc^mmencing  on  the 
next  Sunday  thereafter,  and  ending  on,  and  including  Easter 
Day  in  the  year  succeeding,  be  the  term  greater  or  less  than  a 
year,  will  be  disposed  of  to  the  highest  bidder,  unless  the  pre- 
vious holder  of  such  privilege  or  right  shall  apply  and  agree 
for  the  same  betore  such  time^  and  pay  the  sum  required  there- 
for, at  the  office  of  said  Corporation.  Notice  of  the  amount  of 
rent  demanded  for  the  next  term  will  be  given  to  such  ot  the 
occupants  as  shall  have  lodged  in  the  office  of  the  Corporation 
a  memorandum  of  the  place  to  which  such  notice  shall  be  sent, 
one  month  before  the  time  appointed  for  the  letting. 

IV.  The  above  agreement,  or  the  occupation  of  a  seat,  does 
not  give  to  any  person  the  right  and  privilege  of  a  corporator. 
Copies  of  the  ordinance  of  the  corporation  to  regulate  the 
annual  elections,"  &c.,  passed  March  25th,  1844,  can  be  obtained 
at  the  office  of  the  corporation. 

V.  No  alteration  shall  be  made  in  any  seat,  slip  or  pew,  or  of 
the  furniture,  without  the  consent  of  the  vestry,  or  of  their  offi- 
cer, agent,  or  servant  duly  authorised. 

VI.  There  shall  be  no  name  or  mark  put  upon  any  seatj  slip 
or  pew. 

VII.  If  any  repairs  become  necessary,  notice  thereof  must  be 
given  to  the  sexton. 

VIII.  During  divine  service,  after  the  reading  of  the  portion 
of  the  Psalter,  the  sexton  may  put  strangers  into  the  seats,  slips 
or  pews,  that  are  wholly  unoccupied  by  the  tenant,  or  by  some 
person  for  him. 


■OTSr  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


35 


Office  of  the  Corporation  of  Trinity  Church,  ? 

April,  1856.  S 
Beceived  from  Charles  H.  Clayton,  sixty-five  dollars,  for  the 
wse  of  within  mentioned  pew  No.  one,  in  Trinity  chapel,  during 
the  term  commencing  Easter  Monday,  in  this  year,  and  ending 
on  the  first  day  of  May,  next  year,  such  use  to  be  subject  to  the 
regulations,  and  upon  the  terms  and  conditions  contained  in  the 
schedule  annexed  to  within  agreement,  except  the  fourth. 

$65.  Wm.  E.  DUNSCOMB,  Comptroller. 

Office  OF  the  Corporation  of  Trinity  Church,  185  . 

Received  from  dollars,  for  the  use  of  within  mentioned 

pew  No.  ,  in  Trinity  chapel,  during  the  term  commencing  on 
the  first  Sunday  after  Easter,  in  this  year,  and  ending  on  Easter 
Day,  next  year;  such  use  to  be  subject  to  the  regulations,  and 
oipon  the  terms  and  conditions  contained  in  the  schedule  an- 
nexed to  the  within  agreement. 

%  Comptroller , 

Office  of  the  Corporation  of  Trinity  Church,       185  . 
Received  from  dollars,  for  the  use  of  within  mentioned 

pew  No-  ,  in  Trinity  chapel,  during  the  term  commencing  on 
the  first  Sunday  after  Easter,  in  this  year,  and  ending  on  Easter 
Day,  nextyear^  such  use  to  be  subject  to  the  regulations,  and 
upon  the  terms  and  conditions  contained  in  the  schedule 
annexed  to  the  within  agreement 

Comptroller. 


EXHIBIT  G. 


To  the  Rector^  Wardens,  and  Vestrymen  of  Trinity  Churchy  JVcw-York: 

Gentlemen — The  undersigned,  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of  St.. 
Matthew's  Church  in  this  city,  beg  leave  respectfully  to  repre- 
sent :  That  some  three  years  since,  they  submitted  to  your  corpo- 
ration a  full  statement  of  the  condition,  means  and  wants  of  this 
parish,  and  asked  for  such  an  appropriation  from  the  church 
property  in  your  trust,  as  would  enable  them  to  make  some 
indispensable  repairs  and  improvements — pay  otf  the  mortgage^ 
which  rests  upon  the  parsonage  house  and  lot— and  some  other 
debts.  In  about  one  year,  that  application  w^as  responded  to  by 
an  increase  of  $200  per  ann.  for  five  years,  to  the  $300  previous- 
ly received.  In  other  words,  it  was  a  grant  of  $1000,  payable  in 
semi-annual  instalments  for  that  period.  That  w^as  the  only 
application  we  ever  made  to  your  body  for  aid,  until  the  pre- 
sent :  and  this  we  beg  to  say  wall  be  the  last,  unless  the  response 
be  more  in  accordance  with  the  imperative  necessities  of  our  case. 

St.  Matthew's  was  the  first  church  ever  founded  in  this  city  by 
individual  munificence.  It  has  no  endowment  whatever,  and 
not  one  wealthy  individual  belongs  thereto.  It  has  been  esta- 
blished nearly  fourteen  years.  It  is  contiguous  to  the  church 
estate  in  your  custody,  and  many  of  its  congregation  live  there- 
on. It  is  virtually  a  free  church,  and  for  some  years  was  actu- 
ally so.  Its  revenues  from  pews  does  not  now  exceed  $500  per 
ann.  and  is  constantly  growing  less  by  the  removal  of  its  mem- 
bers to  the  upper  wards  of  the  city,  and  into  its  suburbs.  It 
has  a  debt  of  about  $1,300,  beside  a  mortgage  of  $3,500  on  the 
parsonage;  we  have  had  to  pay  during  the  past  year,  over  $400 
for  city  taxes  and  assessments.  The  church  edifice  is  old,  unin- 
viting in  appearance,  and  much  needs  repair.  It  cannot  be 
encumbered  by  debt  or  lien  of  any  kind.  We  have  exerted 
ourselves  to  the  utmost,  and  cannot  consent  to  continue  this 
struggle  beyond  the  1st  of  May  next  ensuing,  unless  such  aid 
shall  be  received  from  the  church  funds  in  your  custody  as  will 
enable  us  to  cancel  our  present  indeblednesSj repair,  and  put  the 
church  edifice  somewhat  on  an  equality  with  others  around  it,, 
and  ensure  its  rector  a  salary  of  not  less  than  $1,200  per  ann. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


37 


We  lay  these  facts  before  you,  gentlemen,  in  the  spirit  of 
christian  candor,  and  with  all  courtesy.  It  now  remains  wnth 
you  to  say,  w^hether  on  the  1st  of  May  next,  this  parish  shall 
cease  to  exist,  and  the  property  be  returned  to  the  donor  there- 
of, for  the  want  of  some  of  that  nursing  aid,  which  is  now  indis- 
pensable to  its  continuance.  As  you  hold  ample  means,  and 
hold  them  for  such  purposes  in  this  city,  on  you  must  the  re- 
sponsibility rest  of  so  painful  an  event. 

In  conclusion,  gentlemen,  it  only  remains  for  us  to  solicit  as 
early  an  expression  of  your  pleasure  in  this  matter  as  is  con- 
venient :  and  tc  submit  for  your  information  the  following  reso- 
lution of  our  vestry,  this  day  adopted : 

Resolved  unanimously,  "  That  this  vestry,  feeling  assured,  that 
from  causes  beyond  their  control,  a  crisis  has  come  in  the  affairs 
of  this  parish,  which  without  extraneous  aid  it  cannot  survive, 
and  cordially  endorsing  the  statement  of  facts  in  the  accompa- 
nying application  to  Trinity  Church,  do  now  agree  and  declare : 
That  the  continuance  of  this  parish  beyond  the  first  day  of  May 
next  ensuing,  or  its  extinction  at  that  time,  be  dependent  upon 
the  action  of  Trinity  Church  Corporation  in  the  premises.  And 
in  the  event  of  no  satisfactory  arrangement  being  had  by  the  1st 
of  February  next  ensuing,  the  rector,  and  church-wardens,  with 
Messrs.  Burtnett,  Bunn  and  Phelps,  be,  and  are  hereby  appointed 
a  committee,  with  full  power,  to  arrange  and  settle  all  pecuni- 
ary obligations  against  the  vestry,  with  any  means  belonging 
thereto  at  their  disposal :  with  a  view  to  restore  the  church 
edifice,  lots,  and  appurtenances  as  received,  to  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bp. 
Eastburn,  in  a  legal  manner." 

With  high  consideration,  we  are  gentlemen, 

Very  respectfully  your  ob't  sevants, 


PHILIP  REYNOLDS,  ? 
JOSIAH  RHODES,  \ 
DANL.  BURTNETT,  ) 
GEORGE  JEFFERDS,  I 
WM.  H.  PHELPS,  I 
EWD.  H.  MERCER,  [ 
MARTIN  T.  BUNN, 
MOSES  DEVOE, 
JOHN  BOGERT, 
THOMAS  BELL, 


Wardens, 


EXHIBIT  J. 


No,  1, 
Church  edifice. 


No.  2, 

No. 

Ely'3. 

120,000 

$16,000 

No.  3y 

No,  4, 

120,000 

$16,000 

201  do   

  28.10x82.0 

30,ooa 

21,30a 

205  do   

  24.9x82.0 

22,000 

19,000 

25x82.0 

22,000 

19,500 

209&211do   

  25x82.0' 

27,000 

19,500 

22,500 

18,000 

27,000 

19,000 

32,000 

20,000 

No.  5, 

35,oao 

30,000 

25x74 

35,ooa 

30,000 

, . .  25x74 

35,000 

30,000 

No.  6j 

,     , .  25x200 

25,000 

18,000 

, . .  25x100 

24,000 

19,000 

25x75 

20,000 

18,000 

75          do  ..... 

  24x75 

20,000 

17,500 

85  do 

,  25x75 

18,000 

16,000 

.  25x75 

18,000 

16,000 

ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


39 


No.  7, 


52x50 

$50,000 

$35,000 

140  do 

22x50 

17,500 

15,000 

142  do   

25x50 

19,000 

17,000 

148  do   

25x75 

25,000 

18,000 

147  do   

25x75 

27,000 

18,000 

155  do   

25x75 

25,000 

17,000 

157  do   

25x75 

24,000 

17,000 

159  do 

25x75 

24,000 

17,000 

161  do 

25x75 

23,500 

17,000 

163  do 

25x75 

23,500 

17,000 

273  Greenwich  street,   

25x65 

18,000 

14,000 

275  to  281  do   

75x90 

60,000 

50,000 

No.  8, 

25x75 

27,500 

23,000 

25x75 

27,500 

23,000 

25x100 

35,000 

28,000 

25x100 

30,000 

28,000 

t  1  C\                         1_              ^  J...  »  »  J- 

25x75 

30,000 

28,000 

■a  1  4  J 

2ox75 

30,000 

28,000 

o r\     "PI  «  ^   1  „     ^4-^ ^  ^ 2. 

2dxd2 

18,000 

18,000 

No,  9, 

iio.lxIUD 

t  f\f\  AAA 

100,000 

1  1  C  AAA 

115,000 

2o. 2x106 

80,000 

90,000 

75.1x107 

80,000 

90,000 

5,  7  &  9  Murray-street,  . . 

.  14.11x100 

150,000 

150,000 

.  25x100 

45,000 

48,000 

.  25x100 

85,000 

90,000 

.  25x100 

40,000 

45,000 

25x75 

40,000 

45,000 

20X75 

t  rr  AAA 

17,000 

16,000 

No.  10, 

.  25x49.9 

7,500 

7,500 

No.  11, 

.  25.6x83 

20,000 

20,000 

106  do   

,  22.6x83 

19,000 

19,000 

.  26x83 

20,000 

20,000 

110  do   

.  25x83 

20,000 

20,000 

40 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


No.  12, 

60  Reade-street,                    25x83  $30,000  $30,000 

74          do                          25x83  .25,000  25,000 

No.  13, 

32  Harrison-st.,                   24x76  6,000  7,000 

No.  14, 

368  Greenwich-st.,                 25.6x71  6,000  7,000 

372       do                             25x100  8,000  10,000 

374       do                             20.11x100  7,000  8,000 

376  do                              12.6x40  (   ....  .  ... 

378  do                              41.11x27.10  1   ^'^^^  ^'^^^ 

380  do                              24.7x40  4,000  6,000 

382       do                             25.5x100  8,000  10,000 

384       do                             25x91  8,000  9,500 

No.  15, 

377  Greenwich-st.,                 28.6x100  9,000  10,000 

379  do                              22x100  7,000  8,000 

381  do                              25x100  8,000  9,000 

283       do                             25x55  6,000  6,000 

387       do                             25x100  8,000  9,000 

389       do                             25x100  8,000  9,000 

391       do                             25x100  8,000  9,000 

393       do                              26x100  8,000  9,000 

397       do                             24.10x100  12,000  12,000 

No.  16, 

50  Varick-st.,                      28.8x175  18,000  15,000 

No.  17, 

415  Greenwich-st.,                 25x55.9  5,500  6,000 

41 5  J     do                             17ix56  2,500  3,000 

417       do                             20.3x56.8  2,500  3,000 

419       do                              14x70.7  4,000  4,500 

421       do                             15.3x54.10  2,000  2,500 

423       do                             24x57  3,250  3,500 

425       do                              25x58  (4.500)  4,500  4,500 

427       do                             25x68  6,500  6,750 

10  Hubert-st.,                      25x88  6,500  5,500 

59  Laight-st.,                      25x75  5,000  5,500 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


41 


No.  18. 


. . .  23x100 

$9,000 

$9,000 

175 

do   

23.3x100 

9,000 

9,000 

10,000 

10,000 

181 

do   

22.1x99.8 

9,000 

9,500 

183 

do   

...  22.1x99.8 

7,500 

8,000 

185 

do   

7,500 

8,000 

187 

do   

7,500 

8,250 

189 

do   

20.2x75 

6,000 

6,500 

191 

do   

25.5x74 

7,000 

7,500 

193 

do   

.   ,  25.5x74.3 

7,000 

7,500 

54Laij 

,  .    20 . 9x74 

4,000 

4,500 

56 

do   

,..  20.11x79 

4,000 

4,500 

58 

do   

.    24 . 5x80 

4,500 

5,000 

60 

do   

5,000 

5,500 

31  Vestry-st.,  

,  25x107 

5,500 

6,000 

33 

do   

,  29.7x100 

6,000 

6,000 

35 

do   

22x100 

5,000 

5  000 

37 

do   

,  20.6x96 

4,750 

4,750 

39 

do   

...  21.5x94 

4,750 

4,750 

41-45 

do   

„    62.9x86  church 

32 

do   

,  25.7x104 

5,500 

6,000 

34 

do   

.,,  25.1x90.8 

5,000 

5,500 

36 

do   

,..  24.10x90 

5,000 

5,250 

38 

do   

...  25.1x89 

5,000 

5,000 

40 

do   

,.  25.3x88.6 

5,000 

5,250 

42 

do   

...  25.1x88 

5,000 

5,500 

.  26.6x88 

5,000 

5,500 

5 

do 

25.2x78.8 

4,500 

5,000 

7 

do   

.  25.2x99.10 

4,500 

5,000 

9 

do 

24.10x99.6 

4,500 

5,000 

11 

do 

,  25x91 

4,500 

5,000 

13 

do 

,  24.10x91.4 

4,500 

5,000 

15 

do   

25x91.8 

4,500 

5,000 

17 

do 

24x50 

2,500 

3,000 

19 

do 

15.1x50 

1,750 

1,950 

. . .  23x100 

10,000 

10,000 

431 

do   

.  25.6x100.8 

7,500 

8,000 

42  REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE. 

433  Greenwich  St.,   26.4x100  7,500  6,000 

435        do    25x101  7,500  8,000 

437        do    21.7x59.9  4,000  4,500 

439        do    28.11x59.8  5,000  5,500 

441         do    23.3x^9.8  6,000  6,500 

443        do    26x100  7,000  7,500 

445        do    26x100  7,000  7,500 

447        do    24.7x100  7,000  7,500 

449        do    25.8x100  7,000  7,500 

451         do    25x100  7,000  7,500 

453        do    25x64.2  4,000  5,000 

455        do    25.8x58.9  6,000  6,500 

No.  19. 

4  Desbrosses-st.,   24.2x90.8  5,000  6,500 

6        do    25.6x89.3  5,000  5,750 

8        do    25.1x88.6  5,000  5,000 

10         do    25.2x87.9  5,000  5,000 

16        do    30x52.3  4,000  4,500 

18        do    25.3x52.3  3,500  4,000 

20        do    29x51.5  4,000  4,500 

457  Greenwich-st.,   25.6x50  5,500  6,000 

459        do    25.6x50.2  4,000  4,500 

463         do    24x103  7,000  7,000 

465        do    20.6x75  5,000  5,000 

467        do   30x75.6  6,500  6,500  ■ 

205  Hudson-street,   21.11x66.3  6,000  8,000 

207         do    21.4x661  5,000  6,000 

209        do    21.10x65.10  5,500  6,500 

211         do           ........  22.1x64.1  7,000  8,000 

484  Canal-st.  ave.,   51x120  30,000  30,000 

61  Watts-street,    19.11x94.3  7,000  7,000 

63        do   20x94.3  7,000  7,000 

65        do    ^5.2x87.3  7,000  7,000 

67        do    21.9x75  5,000  5,500 

69        do   13x51  1,500  1,500 

71         do    24.10x74  4,000  5,000 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


43 


No.  20. 

182  Hudson  street  J   20x60  6,000  6,500 

186         do    19.5x64  5,000  5,000 

190         do    20x70  5,500  5,500 

194         do    20x70  5,500  5,500 

196         do    20x65  5,500  5,500 

198         do    19.9x53  5,000  5,000 

200         do    20.3x40  4,000  4,000 

202         do    20x28  8,500  3,500 

204  Canal  street,   41x42  triangle,  8,000  9,000 

464         do    2  .11x23.8  4,000  4,500 

462         do    20.5x40  4,500  4,750 

460         do    12x47  2,500  3,000 

458         do    12x50  3,000  3,250 

456         do    12x55  3,500  3,500 

454         do    21.4x60  5,500  5,500 

452         do   ,  21.4x97  7,000  8,000 

450         do    21.4x100  9,000  9,000 

444         do    23.2x90  9,000  8,500 

442-440   do    51.8x58  6  12,000  13,300 

438         do  (through 

to  Vestry)   25x65  10,000  10,000 

No.  21. 

28  Renwick-st.,   21x60  3,500  3,000 

34  do    25x83.6  4,500  4,500 

36       do    25x60  4,000  3,750 

40       do    24.10x60  4,000  3,750 

42       do    25.3x60  4,000  4,000 

283  Hudson-st.,   25x90  8,500  9,000 

285       do    25x90  8,500  9,000 

No.  22. 

83  Varick-st.,  ,  25x86  5,000  5,500 

85       do    25x100  5,000  5,500 

89       do    25x100  5,000  5,500 

*91       do    25x100  5,000  5,750 

93       do    24.10x53  4,500  4,500 

35  Watts-st.,  „   25.1x107  4,500  5,000 


44 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


25.1x89 

4,000 

4,500 

25x80 

3,750 

4,000 

25x80 

3,750 

4,000 

18.7x60.8 

2,500 

2,800 

45  do   

18x60 

2,500 

2,800 

47  do   

20x60 

2,750 

3,000 

20x55 

2,750 

2,800 

51  do   

20x48 

2,500 

3,000 

53  do   

20x42 

2,500 

3,000 

55  do   

20x35 

2,500 

3,000 

485      n„»^^l    TTir«^++o  r^-^A  TTiT  ^ 

483  I  ^^^^^j  Watts  ana  Hucl- 

1  son-streets.  

581 J  ' 

28.8x43 

8,000 

8,000 

479  Canal  (&  Watts)  streets 

201x60 

8,000 

8,000 

20.1x33 

3,500 

3,500 

24.7x40 

4,500 

4,000 

17.7x46 

4,000 

3,800 

471  do   

17.8x53 

4,000 

4,000 

469  do   

20x57 

5,000 

4,500 

467  do   

25.4x73 

8,000 

8,000 

465-463do   

25.10x100 

8,500 

8,300 

22.10x87 

8,000 

9,000 

459  do   

17.10x100 

7,000 

8,000 

17.10x100 

7,700 

8,000 

17.10x100 

7,500 

8,000 

17.10x100 

7,500 

8,000 

17.11x88 

7,000 

6,500 

449  do   

17.11x80 

7,500 

6,250 

447  do   

17.10x75 
No.  23. 

6,000 

6,250 

419  do   

25.10x76  I 
26.4x72  I 

25,000 

'ZD  ,UOU 

421  do   

25.2x82.6 

10,000 

13,000 

6  Sullivan-st.j  

162  &  164 

8  do   

25x71 

4,000 

4,000 

10  do   

25x81.8 

4,000 

4,000 

50x100 

9,000 

10,000 

ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


45 


S.  E.  corner  of  Grand  and 


Varick-st.,  , 

86x93.6 

iftOO  AAA 

dSQO  (\f\{\ 

80  Varick  (cor.  Grand-st.)  25x75 

»7  FCAA 

*7  KAA 

7,0UU 

ZDX/L> 

AAA 

0,000 

K  AAA 

o,uuu 

Q  4  A,^ 

!:iOX/D 

C  AAA 

5,000 

0,000 

O  li            J  ^ 

'i4xoy 

4,oOO 

A   X  A  A 

4,00U 

O  O             J  ^ 

A    C  A  A 

4,o00 

A      A  A 

4,oOO 

90  do   

25x50 

5,000 

A  f\f\f\ 

4,000 

92     do    col  Watts,  

,  25x50 

5,000 

5,000 

.  25x85 

5,000 

5,000 

541  do   

25x85 

5,000 

5,000 

543  do   

25x85 

5,000 

5,000 

545  do   

25x85 

5,000 

5,000 

547  do   

,  25x85 

5,000 

5,000 

No.  24. 

119  Varick-st.,  

,  25x90 

a  AAA 

D,000 

ff  AAA 

0,000 

121  do   

,  25x90 

6,000 

6,000 

123       do     c.  Dominick,. 

25x56.8 

5,500 

5,500 

125  do   

,  26x54.8 

5,500 

5,500 

127  do   

24x54.8 

3,500 

3,500 

129  do   

,  25x76.8 

5,500 

4,500 

No.  25. 

QKv-  < Q  0 
^0X4o . ^ 

A  r\f\f\ 

4,000 

O   K  A  A 

3,o00 

^^l»»v»l-7-  n't- 

Of    0-o-*7Fi  O 

4,000 

3,500 

•7  Ar^ 

!ii4X  /  0  .  o 

4,000 

3,000 

1:44X7  O.o 

4,000 

3,000 

21       do      c.  Dominickj, 

5i4.0X&0.lU 

4  r\  r\r\ 

4,000 

3,500 

OO  A^ 

!<:0X0D  .10 

3,000 

3,000 

OK             A  ^ 

2ox7o 

4,000 

4,000 

c\   •  '  _  1  _  _,j 

25x84.7 

4,000 

3,000 

•t  C\             A  t-^ 

Z0XO4.7 

4,000 

3,000 

25x84.6 

4,000 

3,000 

14  do   

25.3x84.6 

4,000 

o  K  f\r\ 

3,500 

24.10x74.10 

4,000 

3,500 

7  do   

24.11x74.10 

4,000 

3,000 

9  do   

24.11x74x10 

4,000 

3,000 

25.2x74.10 

4,000 

3,000 

46 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE. 


2b .0X74 . 

1  A 

fH>  <  AAA 

$4,000 

O  AAA 

$3,000 

24.2x99. 

6 

6,000 

6,000 

116 

do   

24.2x99. 

6 

6,000 

6,000 

120 

do   

24x48 

5,500 

4,000 

TVo  26 

25  5x78, 

.5 

3,500 

5,000 

538 

do  C.Clark,... 

24.6x65 

4,500 

5,000 

6  Clark-st.,  

22.6x68 

3,000 

4,000 

16 

do   

25x90 

4,500 

4,500 

18 

do   

25x90 

4,500 

4,500 

22 

do   

25x90 

4,500 

4,500 

?4 

do   

25x90 

4,500 

5,000 

26 

do   

!:ioxyu 

4,0UU 

O5UUU 

202  Spr 

ing-st.,  c.  Clark,. . . . 

22x75 

6,000 

5,500 

200 

do   

23.2x75 

5,000 

5,750 

198 

do   

22.5x75 

5,000 

5,000 

No.  28. 

303  Hudson,  n.  w.  c.  Spring, 

25.8x50 . 

2 

5,500 

6,000 

305 

do   

20.3x50 

3,000 

4,500 

307 

do   

20.3x50 

3,000 

4,000 

309 

do   

20.3x50 

3,000 

4,000 

311 

do   

20.3x50 

3,000 

4,000 

20 .9x75 

4,500 

5,000 

315 

do   

20 .9x75 

A   K  r\f\ 

4,500 

5,000 

317 

do   

20 .9x75 

4,500 

5,000 

319* 

do   

20 . 9x75 

4,500 

4,500 

321 

do  s.w.cr.Vandam, 

24.9x75 

7,000 

6,000 

323 

do    n.w.  do 

32x25 

3,000 

3,000 

325 

do   

17.11x25 

1,500 

1,500 

327 

do   

16.8x50 

2,500 

2,500 

329 

do   , . . . 

16.8x50 

2,500 

2,500 

331 

do   

16.8x50 

2,500 

2,000 

333 

do   

25x100 

6,000 

6,500 

335 

do   

22.5x50 

3,250 

3,500 

337 

do   

21x50 

3,250 

3,500 

339 

do   

34x50 

6,000 

5,500 

♦These  two  lots  include  No.  80  Vandam-st. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH.  47 


25y1  Of) 

*<ft7  500 

^1  500 

269 

25x100 

6,000 

7,000 

271 

24  10x100 

6,000 

6,000 

275 

25  2x100 

6,000 

6,000 

277 

do   

25  2x100 

6,000 

6,000 

279 

do   

25x1 00 

6  000 

6  000 

281 

25x1 00 

6,000 

6,500 

283 

do   

25x75 

5,000 

6,000 

285 

do   

25x50 

4,000 

5  500 

315 

do   

24x25 

1  500 

9  000 

317 

do  n.e. C.Greenwich, 

A  noo 

4t,OUU 

O/ 1    1  A-c- 1  1  Q 
Zi)  .  lUXl  lo 

AAA 
0,U(JU 

•  AAA 

o,uuu 

84 

do   

zzxl lo 

K  PLAA 

o,oUU 

Pi  AAA 

o,uuu 

86 

do   

y ,  juu 

P»  000 

88 

do   

95x1  7*^ 

5  500 

5  000 

90 

do   

25x1 1 ^ 

A^fJ  A.X  ±  tj 

5,500 

2  000 

92 

25x1 1 3 

5,500 

5  000 

94 

do   

24  10x113 

5,500 

5,')00 

96 

do   

21  8x38  6 

1,759 

2,000 

98 

do   

16x38  6 

X        A^\D  m  \J 

1,200 

1,500 

81 

do   

op;  1  -c-  K(\ 

ZiJ.L  jL  Jkj 

3,000 

4,000 

90  CliarltoUjS.w.c.Hudson-st., 

OUXou . 0 

See  339  Hudson. 

94 

5,000 

6,000 

96 

do   

0  4    1  nTr*7K 

. lUX / 0 

5,000 

5,500 

517 

95^50 

4,000 

4,500 

519 

do   

25x75 

5,000 

5,000 

521 

do   

25x100 

6,000 

5,500 

523 

do   

25x100 

6,000 

5,500 

525 

do   

25x100 

6,000 

5,500 

527 

do   

25x98 

6,000 

5,500 

529 

do   

1^)  .'^x61  6 

3,000 

4,500 

531 

do    s.  e.  c.  Vandam, 

1Q  fivfii  a 

X  V  .  \)a.\}  1  .  U 

4,000 

6,000 

539 

do    n.  e.  c.  do 

95  9y51 

5,500 

6,000 

541 

do   

25  2xQ0  Q 

6,000 

6,000 

543 

do   

25x99.9 

6,000 

5,500 

547 

do   

15x100 

3,000 

3,750 

549 

do   

15x100 

3,000 

4,750 

551 

do   

20x100 

4,500 

4,500 

48 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


553 

25x75 

$5,000 

$5,500 

555 

do   

25x75 

6,000 

7,000 

No.  29. 

141 

TT  i  _  1_  -A. 

20x50 

2,500 

3,000 

143 

^ 

19x50 

2,400 

2,750 

145 

J  ^ 

20 .6x50 

2,500 

2,500 

147 

J  ^ 

19.6x50 

2,400 

2,500 

149 

1 

23x50 

2,700 

2,750 

163- 

25x75 

5,000 

4,500 

231 

Spring-st.,  cor.  Varick, 

25x50 

5,000 

6,000 

239 

1  _ 

55x51 

3,000 

4,500 

r>  o  K 

235 

25x114 

6,000 

7,000 

r»  o 

237 

1  „ 

25 .2x114 

6,000 

7,000 

239 

25.2x114 

6,000 

7,000 

241 

1  „ 

25x114 

6,000 

7,000 

245 

25.1x114 

6,000 

7,000 

247 

25.3x114 

6,000 

7,000 

249 

25x114 

6,000 

7,000 

251 

do   

25x114 

6,000 

7,000 

253 

25x114 

6,000 

7,000 

255 

do  

25x114 

6,000 

7,000 

259 

do   

25x50 

4,000 

4,500 

261 

do  n.  e.  cr.  Hudson, 

25x50 

6,000 

6,000 

44  Vandam-st.s.w.cr.Varick 

25x51 .4 

4,000 

4,000 

46 

do   

25x51 

2,500 

3,500 

48 

do   

25x100 

4,500 

5,500 

50 

do  

25x100 

4,500 

5,500 

52 

do   

25x100 

4,500 

4,500 

54 

do   

25x100 

4,500 

4,500 

56 

do   

25x100 

A   C  A  rv 

4,500 

4,500 

58 

25x100 

4,500 

4,500 

60 

do   

25x100 

A    K  f\r\ 

4,500 

4,500 

72 

do   

25x100 

4,500 

4,500 

64 

25x100 

4,500 

4,500 

66 

do   

25x100 

4,500 

4,500 

68 

do   

25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

70 

do   

25x100 

6,000 

5,500 

ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


49 


Bl  Yandam  St.,   25x100 

:53  do    25x100 

55  do    25x100 

57  do    25x100 

59  do    25x100 

61  do    25x100 

63  do    24.10x100 

65  do    26x100 

67  do         ,   20.6x100 

69  do    29.8x100 

71  do    25x100 

73  do   ,  25x70 

75  d2    25x70 

62  Charlton  St.,   25x75 

64  do    25x100 

66  do    25x100 

68  do    25x100 

70  do    25x100 

72  do    25x100 

74  do    25x100 

76  do    25x100 

78  do    25x100 

80  do    25x100 

82  do    25x100 

84  do   24.7x100 

86  do   25x100 

308  Hudson  St.,   17x50 

310  do    17x50 

312  do    17x50 

314  do    29.8x50 

316  do    28x50 

318  do    28x50 

320  do  cor.  Vandam  St.,  29x50 

328  do    20.6x24.2 

330  do    25.3x24 

332  do    24.3x24 

334  do    30.4x75.5 

338  do    25.50.5 

4 


$4,500 

$5,000 

4,500 

4,500 

4,500 

4,500 

4,50u 

4,500 

4,500 

4,500 

4,500 

4,500 

4,500 

4,500 

4,500 

4,500 

3,750 

3,750 

5,000 

4,500 

6,000 

5,500 

5,000 

5,500 

6,000 

5,500 

3,500 

4,000 

4,500 

5,000 

4,500 

5,000 

4,500 

5,000 

4,500 

5,000 

4,500 

5,000 

4,500 

5,000 

4,500 

5,000 

4,500 

5,000 

4,500 

5,000 

4,500 

5,000 

5,500 

5,500 

6,000 

6,500 

2,500 

2,750 

2,500 

2,750 

2,500 

2,750 

4,000 

4,000 

4,000 

4,000 

4,000 

4,250 

6,000 

6,000 

3,000 

6,500 

2,000 

1,500 

6,000 

5,500 

4,000 

3,750 

REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE». 


25.3x50.5 

$4,000 

|3,750' 

do 

27x50.5 

4,520 

4,000 

do  cor.  Charlton. St. 

,  25.3x37.7 

5,500 

5,500 

No.  30. 

223  Spring, 

cr.Macdongal-9t. 

42x100 

9,000 

11,000 

da 

20x100 

4,500 

5,000 

vaI 

do 

20x100 

4,500 

5,000 

dio 

20x100 

4,500 

4,800 

do 

20x100 

4,500 

4,800 

do 

20x100 

4,500 

4,800 

do 

20x100 

4,500 

4,800 

do 

20x100 

4,500 

4,800 

r»  o  n 

do 

25x100 

6,000 

6,000 

Ml 

do 

20x105 

4,500 

4,800 

24a 

^ 

20x100 

4,500 

4,800 

245 

do 

25x100 

6,000 

6,000 

241 

do 

25x100 

6,000 

6,000 

249^ 

do 

25x105 

6,000 

6,000 

251 

do 

25x99 . 5 

6,000 

6,000 

253 

do 

25x99.5 

6,000 

6^000 

255 

do 

16x9x58.2 

2,000 

3,000 

257 

do 

21x58.2 

2,500 

3,500 

259  n.w.cr.  Variek-st.,  .... 

21x58.10 

4,000 

5,500 

18x100 

2,500 

2,500 

B 

do 

15x100 

2,700 

2,700 

10 

do 

25x100 

4,500 

4,250 

12 

da 

23x100 

4,250 

4,000 

14 

da 

22.10x100 

4,250 

4,000 

16 

da 

22.10x100 

4,250 

4,000 

18 

da 

23x100 

4,250 

4,000 

20 

da 

23x100 

4,250 

4,000 

23 

da 

23x100 

4,250 

4,000 

24 

da 

24.6x150 

4,500 

4,250 

26 

da 

28.100 

5,000 

5,000 

28 

da 

21.4x100 

4,000 

4,000 

30 

do 

25.8x100 

4,500 

4,500 

32 

do 

24.10x100 

4,500 

4,500 

ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


51 


:U  Yandam-st.,   25x100 

-S6  do  ....   25.6x100 

SS  do    22x100 

40  do    20x49.6 

7  do    17x100 

9  do   25x100 

11  do   25x100 

13  do   25x100 

15  '    do    25x100 

17  do   22x100 

19  do   28x100 

31  do   25x100 

33  do    19.8x100 

35  do    20x100 

37  do    20x100 

39  do    20x100 

31  do    20x100 

33  do    25x100 

35  do    25x100 

37  do    18.6x75 

39  do    18.10x75 

41  do    18.10x75 

*43  do    18.10x74 

45  do  er.  Variek,  25x75 

16  Charlton-st,   18 .2x100 

18  do    18.9x100 

20  do    18.9x100 

32  do    18.9x100 

34  do    18,9x100 

26  do    25x100 

38  do    25x100 

140  Variek-st.,    16.5x64 

142  do    21.8x64 

142i  &  144    29x64 

146  do    19x64 

148  do    20x64 

150  do    16.6x43 


*  This  No.  includes  160  V&riek-street. 


$4,500 

$4,500 

4,500 

4,500 

4,250 

4,000 

3,500 

2,500 

3,000 

3,000 

4,500 

4,000 

4,500 

4,000 

4,500 

4,000 

4,500 

4,000 

4,255 

3,750 

5,000 

4,250 

4,500 

4,000 

4,000 

3,500 

4,000 

3,500 

4,000 

3,500 

4,000 

3,500 

4,000 

3,500 

4,500 

4,250 

4,500 

4,250 

3,000 

3,000 

3,000 

3,250 

3,000 

3,250 

3,000 

3,250 

5,500 

5,500 

3,000 

3,500 

3,000 

3,500 

3,000 

3,500 

3,000 

3,500 

3,000 

3,500 

4,500 

5,250 

4,500 

5,250 

3,000 

3,000 

3,000 

3,000 

0  ,ouu 

4,o00 

3,250 

3,000 

3,550 

3,250 

1,500 

2,000 

52 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE. 


16.6x43 

$1,500 

$2,00-0 

154       do  c.Vandam-st. 

16.6x43 

2,000 

3,000 

24.7x100 

5,000 

5,000 

20x100 

4,400 

4,000 

166  do   

20x66 

168  do   

20x66 

3,500 

3,900 

170  do   

20x66 

3,500 

3,500 

172       do  C.Charlton, 

20x66 

4,500 

4,500 

20.8x50 

3,000 

4,000 

oi7  do   

20 .9x50 

3,000 

4,000 

Q  /I  n 

20x50 

3,000 

4,000 

QKI 

25x100 

7,000 

7,000 

Q  PL O   S?T  OKK 

25x100 

7,000 

7,000 

Q  K>7  A^ 

16 .8x60 

2,500 

3,500 

ooy  do   

16 .8x61 

2,500 

3,500 

361       do       s.w. C.King, 

16 .8x61 

4,000 

4,500 

ODD  do   

16.8x60 

2,500 

3  50O 

O     IT               J  ^ 

16.8x60 

2,50l> 

3,500 

36^  do   

16.8x60 

2,500 

3,500 

371  &  373   

25x100 

6,500 

6,500 

16 .6x60 

2,500 

3,500 

377  do 

17x60 

2,500 

3,500 

37^  do   

17x60 

2,500 

3,500 

17x60 

2,500 

4,000 

17x60 

2,500 

4,000 

385  H  dson,  s.  w.  c.  Ham- 

23x38.6 

4,500 

4,500 

91  Cnarltonjn.  w.  c.  Hud- 

son-st., .... 

23x36.5 

4,500 

4,500 

27.3x38.6 

3,ooa 

3,000 

25.2x100 

5,000 

8,000 

24.9x100 

6,000 

99  do   

24.10x100 

5,000 

5,500 

101  do   

22x100 

4,500 

5,000 

103  do 

24.9x100 

5,000 

5,500 

105  do 

25xioa 

5,000 

5,500 

ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


53 


107  Charlton-st.,   25x100  $5,000  $5,000 

109  do    25x100  5,000  5,500 

111  do    27x100  5,250  7,500 

96  King-street,   16,9x50  2,000  3,000 

98  do    19x50  2,000  3,000 

100  do    25x100  5,000  3,000 

102  do    25x100  5,000  5,000 

104  do    25x100  5,000  5,000 

106  do          ,   25x100  5,000  5,000 

108  do    25x100  5,000  5,000 

110  do    25x100  5,000  5,000 

112&114do  see  571  Greenwich-st. 

97  do    19x100  3,000  4,000 

99  do    19.3x100  3,000  3,750 

101  do    19.3x100  3,000  3,750 

103  do    19.3x100  3,000  3,750 

105  do   19.8x100  3,000  3,750 

107  do          ,   25x100  5,000  5,000 

109  do    25x100  5,000  5,000 

111  &  113  do  see  572  Greenwich-st. 
90i&90iHammersly-st.,.,  40x100  8,000  8,000 
92  do  ..  18x100  3,500  3,500 
94  do  ..  18x100  3,500  3,500 
56  do  18x100  3,500  3,500 

98  do  ..  18x100  3,500  3,500 
100  do  18x100  3,500  3,500 

102  do  18x100  3,500  3,500 

104  do  18x100  3,500  3,500 

106  do  19x100  3,500  3,750 

108  do  see  586  Greenwich-st. 

557  Greenwich  c.  Charlton,  25x73  6,000  6,500 

561  do    28.6x73  5,000  5,500 

563  do    24.6x73  4,500  5,000 

565  do    24.10x99.9  5,000  5,500 

569  do    25.2x99.9  5,000  5,500 

572  do       C.Kings,   24.10x99.9  7,000  7,000 

573  do    13.9x100^1 

573^  do    18x100     }  12,000  12,000 

575  do    18x100  J 


54 

REPOUT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE. 

577Green,ieh-st.,                ^5x100  $5,000  |5,50«. 

f                           28x100  5,000  5,500 

585      t  '''''  5,50» 

III  l:  ch™:""" 

 •••    25x100  7,000  7,000 

No.  32, 

171  Varfckc  Charlton,...    21x75  6,000  5,500 

III       T      ' ^'500  4,000 

'  !       f                           ^^••^'^lOO  4,250  4,250 


20x100  4,500 


4,500 


183         do     9.fi  K-^lnA  „,.„  ' 

do   28x60 


  28.6x100          5,250  5,250 

26.5x100          5,000  5,000 

87      do      s.w.c.Kmg,   22x60              5,000  5,000 

189       do       s.w.c.do..    25.4x5J>            5,250  5,250 

III       f                           24.8x50            3,500  3,500 

III       f                           24.9x60            3,500  3,500 

III       t                           27.7x60            4,000  3,750 

  23x60               3,250  3  250 

II'       f                           20x53               3,000  3;00O 

'  ;       f  3,000 

  17x53               2,750  2  750 

205       do    c.HammersIy,.    17x53              4,000  4  OOO 

67  Charlton-st.                   25x100             5,500  5,'50O 

f                             25x100              5,500  5,500 

^1       do        •   25x100 

■''3      do    25x100 

II      f                         25x100  5,500  5,500 

II       f                           25x100  5,600  5,500 

f                             25x100  5,500  5,500 

II      f                         25x100  5,500  5,500 

II       f                             25x74  4,500  5,500 

I:       f                           25x64  4,000  4,000 

  25x64  5,000  4,000 

5,000 


5,500  5,600 
5,500  5,500 


89      do         C.Hudson,   23.6x36  5,000 


ON  AFFAIRS 

OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 

DO 

,  20x50 

$1,750 

^1,750 

An. 

,  20x60 

1,500 

1,500 

.  25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

♦7/1 

Arx 

.  25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

7d 

Arx 

.  25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

78 

25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

<0  A 

25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

82 

25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

«4 

25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

.  26x100 

5,000 

5,000 

^8 

J  ^ 

20x50 

2,000 

2,000 

so 

20x59 

^,500 

2,500 

69 

J  -V 

49x100 

10,000 

9,000 

71 

J  « 

25x100 

5,000 

4,000 

73 

25x100 

5,000 

4,000 

79 

J  ^ 

.  25x100 

5,000 

4,000 

^81 

J  ^ 

25.3x100 

5,000 

4,000 

83 

do  

25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

^5 

do 

25x100 

5,250 

5,000 

07 

,  25x50 

3,000 

2,500 

S9 

do   

23.3x50 

3,000 

3,000 

.  21x100 

4,000 

4,000 

68 

do   , 

.  21x100 

4,000 

4,000 

70 

,  25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

72 

,  25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

74 

20x100 

4,000 

4,000 

76 

20x100 

4,000 

4,000 

78 

do   , 

20x100 

4,000 

4,000 

80 

do   

20x100 

4,000 

4,000 

82 

25.6x100 

5,000 

5,000 

84 

25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

86 

do  

.  25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

88 

32x50 

4,000 

5,000 

25.6x25,9 

2.000 

2,000 

S48 

do   

.  14x75 

3,000 

3,000 

354 

do   , 

.  26x100 

6,000 

6,500 

356 

do   

.  25.5x100 

6,000 

6,500 

358 

,  25x100 

6,000 

6,500 

56 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


360 

Hudson-st.. 

^3,000 

$3,50t>' 

362 

do 

  16.8x60 

3,250 

3,500 

364 

do 

cor.  King,   16.8x60 

4,500 

4,250 

366 

do 

4,000 

4,000 

368 

do 

 .oc,  16.8x51,6 

3,000 

3,000 

370 

do 

  16.8x51.6 

3,000 

3,000 

372 

do 

6,000 

6,500 

374 

do 

  25x100 

6,000 

6,500 

376 

do 

  16.8x100 

3,750 

3,750 

O  lo 

rlo 

uu 

O,  1  OyJ 

o,  /  JU 

380 

do 

  16.8x100 

3^750 

3,750 

382 

do 

  25x68 

5,000 

5,000 

384 

do 

cr. Hammer  sly  25x68 

7,000 

7,000 

No  33. 

15  Charlton-st. 

5,000 

4,750 

17 

do 

5,000 

4,750 

19 

do 

5,000 

4,750 

21 

do 

5,000 

4,750 

25 

do 

5,500 

5,500 

27 

do 

4,000 

4,200 

29 

do 

4,000 

4,200 

31 

do 

4,000 

4,200 

33 

do 

4,000 

4,200 

35 

do 

  20x100 

4,000 

4,200 

37 

do 

  25x100 

5,500 

5,500 

39 

do 

    25x100 

5,500 

5,500 

41 

do 

4,250 

4,300 

43 

do 

  21.6x100 

4,250 

4,300 

45 

do 

  21.6x100 

4,25o 

4,300 

47 

do 

4,250 

4,300 

49 

do 

  21.6x100 

4,250 

4,300 

51 

do 

3,750 

3,750 

53 

do 

  21.5x72 

4,000 

4,000 

55 

do 

cr.  Varick,. . .  25x37 

3,600 

3,500 

28  King- street. 

  22x100 

4,000 

4,000 

30 

do 

  22.10x100 

4,000 

4,000 

32 

do 

  25x100 

4,500 

4,500 

ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


57 


,  .  25x100 

$4,500 

$4,500 

36 

,  20x100 

o  K.  r\(\ 

3,500 

3,500 

38 

^ 

. .  20x100 

3,500 

3,500 

40 

J 

, .  20x100 

3,500 

3,500 

42 

. .  20x100 

3,500 

3,500 

44 

1 

20x100 

3,500 

3,500 

46 

t 

, .  25x100 

4,500 

4,500 

48 

J  _ 

25x100 

A   K  c\r\ 

4,500 

4,500 

50 

J 

25x100 

4,500 

4,500 

52 

J 

20.10x100 

3,500 

3,500 

54 

,  .    20 .10x100 

2,500 

3,500 

56 

. ,  20.10x100 

3,500 

3,500 

58 

. .  20.10x100 

3,500 

3,500 

60 

20.10x100 

3,500 

3,500 

62 

,  .  20.10x75 

3,000 

3,000 

64 

J 

25x75 

4,000 

4,000 

27 

J  _ 

25 .4x100 

4,500 

4,500 

29 

1 

.  „  28.6x100 

5,000 

5.000 

31 

1 

,.  21.6x100 

3,500 

3,500 

33 

do   

23x100 

4,000 

4,000 

35 

. .  27.6x100 

5,000 

5,000 

37 

. ,  27x100 

5,000 

5,000 

39 

. .  23.6x100 

4,000 

4,000 

41 

do   , 

23.6x100 

4,000 

4,000 

43 

. .  25x100 

4,500 

4,500 

45 

do   

25x100 

4,500 

4,500 

47 

. .  25x100 

4,500 

4,500 

49 

do   , 

. .  25x100 

4,500 

4,500 

51 

do   

..  24.10x100 

4,500 

4,500 

53 

do   

. .  25x100 

4,500 

4,500 

55 

do   

. .  25x75 

4,500 

4,500 

21 .9x100 

4,500 

4,000 

30 

do   

25x100 

5,000 

4,000 

32 

do   

18.9x100 

3,750 

3,750 

34 

do   

18.9x100 

3,750 

3,750 

36 

do   

..  18.9x100 

3,750 

3,750 

36| 

do   

18.9x100 

3,750 

3,750 

38 

do   

21.10x100 

5,000 

5,000 

58  REPORT  OF    SELECT  COMMITTEE. 


40  Hammersly-street,  . . . 

25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

do  ... 

2oxlOO 

5,000 

5,000 

A  A 

44 

cLo              . . , , 

25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

Ar^ 

do                   .  .  .  , 

20x100 

4,000 

4,000 

A  Q 

dO                 .  .  .  , 

20x100 

4,000 

4,000 

tiu                 .  .  .  . 

OA-C7-1  Art 

A  AAA 

4,UUU 

i   A  Art 

4,000 

UU                   .  .  .  . 

A  AAA 

4,UUU 

A  rtrtA 

4,U0U 

54 

do 

ZUXIUU 

A  AAA 

4,UUU 

A  AAA 

4,UUU 

56 

do   

Art 

5,UUU 

C  AAA 

5,000 

58 

do 

r»  K     O  1  A  A 

25 .8x100 

C  AAA 

5,000 

K  AAA 

5,000 

60 

do 

20x58 

O  AAA 

3,000 

O   A  A/"k 

t3,000 

176  Varick-street,  

OOX.Z0 

o  f\fir\ 
ZjlJKJV 

O  AAA 
Z^KJVX) 

178  &  180 

do   

ZOXOo 

O,0uU 

o,ouu 

182 

do   

2Dx7o 

d,750 

t3,750 

184 

do   

OA  A-^CiK 

dO .4x25 

1      r\  A 

1,700 

1    I^A  A 

1,700 

186 

do  c.  King/  . . , , 

44 .0X25 

0,750 

t>,750 

190 

do   

ID . OXOU . 0 

Q  AAA 
o,UUU 

9  Pino 

192 

do   

ly . oxou . 0 

1921 

do   

1 y . /xou . 0 

9  nnn 

192^ 

do   

ly . oxou 

O  AAA 

ZjKjyjyj 

9  Ann 

194 

ZD . ox /O 

A  AAA 
4,UUU 

A  nnn 

196 

do   

ZL  . yx / D 

o,!^0U 

Q  oPin 

o^ZvD 

198 

do   

20.5x75 

3,000 

3,000 

200 

do   

9  950 

202 

do  

2UX04 . 0 

O  O  KA 

2,i5U 

O  OFLrt 

ZjZOv 

204 

do  c.Hammersly 

L  4 .  yxo-± .  0 
No.  34. 

o,  /  ou 

^  7i^n 

o,  /  OU 

387  Hudson-st.jii.w.  c.  Ham- 

mersly,. . . . 

25x70 

Pi  Art 

OjOUU 

£J  Krtrt 

0,500 

389 

do 

O  K-rrt  A  A 

z5xlU0 

rj  AAA 

7,UUu 

*7  rtrtrt 

7,000 

391 

do   

OFi-c-1  Art 

7  HAA 
/,UUU 

7  AAA 

/,uuu 

393 

do   

OFivl  AA 

/  ,UUU 

7  nnn 

395 

do   

zoxiuu 

/  ,uuu 

7  nnn 
/  ,uuu 

397 

do   

OOvl  f\C\ 

ft  Ann 

4\  Ann 

399 

do   

o,uu  o 

nnn 

401 

do   

18x54 

3,000 

3,000 

403 

do  s.w.cClarkson 

17x54 

4,500 

4,500 

405 

do  n.  w.  c.  do 

25x60 

6,000 

5,750 

407  Hudson-street,   25x60 

409  do   

411  do   

413  do   

415  do   

417  do   

419  do   

421  do  s.  w.  c.  Leroy, 

93  Hammersly-street,  .... 

95  do 

97  do   

99  do   

101  do 
103  do 

36  Clarkson-street,    25x100 


38 

do 

40 

do 

42 

do 

44 

do 

46 

do 

48 

do 

50 

do 

52 

do 

45 

do 

35 

do 

37 

do 

39 

do 

41 

do 

108  Leroy-st.,   25x100 

585  Greenwich-st,  n.  e.  c. 

Hammersly, 

587  do   

589  do   

603  do   

605  do   

607  do   

609  do   

611  do   


'  TRINITY  CHURCH. 

oy 

25x60 

S5,000 

S5,000 

25x100 

6,000 

6,500 

21x100 

5,000 

5,000 

29x100 

7,000 

7,250 

25x100 

6,000 

6,500 

16.8x71 

3,000 

3,500 

16.8x71 

3,500 

3,500 

16.8x71 

5,000 

4,500 

30.25 

1,500 

2,000 

25x100 

6,000 

5,750 

25x100 

6,000 

5,750 

25x100 

6,000 

5,750 

25x100 

6,000 

5,750 

25x100 

6,000 

5,750 

25x100 

6,250 

6,000 

25x100 

6,000 

5,750 

25x100 

6,000 

5,750 

25x100 

6,000 

5,750 

25x100 

6,000 

5,750 

19.6x60 

3,500 

3,500 

19.6x57 

3,500 

3,500 

19.6x55 

3,500 

3,500 

19.6x52 

3,500 

3,500 

19.6x51 

4,000 

3,570 

21x67 

3,500 

3,500 

21x67 

3,500 

3,500 

25x100 

6,000 

5,750 

25x100 

6,000 

5,750 

25x100 

5,000 

5,500 

29x67 

6,000 

6,500 

24 . 5x63 . 9 

4,500 

5,000 

25x82.9 

5,000 

5,500 

15.4x24 

1,000 

800 

15.4x24 

1,000 

800 

25x111 

6,500 

6,500 

25.109 

6,500 

6,500 

25x107 

6,500 

6,500 

60 


REPORT  OR  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


No.  35, 
207  Yarick-st.  n.  w.  c.  Ham- 


mersly, 

16.8x60 

$4,000 

209  do   

16.8x60 

2,750 

211  do   

16.8x60 

2,500 

213  do   

16.9x100 

4,000 

215  do   

20.9x100 

4,000 

217  do   

20.3x100 

4,000 

219  do   

17.3x100 

3,250 

221  do   

25x100 

5,000 

223  do   

25x100 

5,000 

225       do  s.w.Gor.Clarkson, 

25x100 

6,500 

25x100 

6,500 

49  do   

25x100 

5,000 

51  do   

25x100 

5,000 

53  do   

25x100 

5,000 

55  do   

26x100 

5,000 

57  do   

25x100 

5,000 

59  do   

25x100 

5,000 

61  do   

25x100 

5,000 

386  Hudson-st.  cor.  Ham- 

mersly. 

18x59.10 

4,250 

388  do   

18x59.10 

3,750 

18x61 

3,750 

21x61 

4,250 

25x100 

6,500 

398  do   

25x100 

6,500 

25x100 

5,000 

10  do   

25x100 

5,000 

12  do   

25x100 

5,000 

14  do   

25x100 

5,000 

25x100 

5,000 

18  do   

25x100 

5,000 

20  do   

25x100 

5,500 

22  do   

25x100 

5,750 

On  Hudson-st.,  8  lots,  the 

front  from  Clarkson  to 

26x100 

56,000 

ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


61 


24  lots  on  Clarkson  &  Leroy 

25x104 

$24,250 

$121,700 

i  1  u .  o  u . 

15.8x63.6 

3,500 

3,500 

25x63.6 

5,500 

5,500 

12.6x57 

2,500 

2,500 

12.6x57 

2,500 

2,500 

442       do       s.  w.  c.  Mor- 

25x75 

6,000 

5,750 

447       do       n. W.C.Morton 

25x75 

7,000 

7,000 

25x75 

6,000 

6,000 

25x75 

6,000 

6,000 

A  K  K  1 

C\K  1  C\f\ 

25x100 

t;  A  A 

6,500 

6,500 

A  Kn           J  « 

25x200 

/>     K  A  A 

b  ,500 

ri    e  r\  A 

6,500 

2oxl00 

K  AAA 

5 ,000 

5 ,000 

nct           ^  ^ 

JliOXlUU 

K  f\{\f\ 

0  ,uuu 

K  AAA 

0  ,uuu 

C\r\              J  _ 

n        1  A A 

25x100 

K  AAA 

5,000 

5,000 

c^c\              1  _ 

22 .8x78 

A     r»  C  A 

4,250 

A    r»  f  A 

4,250 

C\  A               J  _ 

A  AAA 

4,000 

4,000 

20x77 

4,000 

4,000 

90       do  C.Greenwich, 

20x77 

K     K  A  A 

5,500 

5,500 

25x75 

4,250 

4,250 

24x100 

4,800 

4,800 

O  /I  -rrl   A  A 

21x100 

4      OA  A 

4,800 

A      OA  A 

4,800 

24x100 

1      OA  A 

4,800 

/I      OA  A 

4,800 

80       do       c. Greenwich, 

r)  At,-     a  O 

2Ux50 .2 

4     PC  A  A 

4 , 500 

1      K  A  A 

4,500 

1  Wl       T>  ^  J. 

r»  K  1  A  A 

25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

r\  •  _  i_ 

25x109 

6,000 

6,000 

/» o  o            ,1  „ 

ox     1 „ AK  A 

25 .1x90 . 9 

6,000 

5,750 

fiOfC  An, 

U  ,  uuu 

0  jl^DU 

637  do   

25 .1x114 

6,000 

6  000 

639  do   

25.1x110 

6,000 

6  000 

641       do  s.w.c.BarroWj 

50.2x23 

5,000 

4,750 

No.  37 

34x100 

6,000 

6,000 

25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

62 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


61 

15x100 

5,000 

5,000 

63 

25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

145 

25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

149 

do   

25x100 

5,500 

5,500 

144 

do 

25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

146 

25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

148 

do   

25x100 

5,000 

5,000 

150 

do   .... 

25x100 

5,500 

5,500 

10 

Grove-street,   

18x73.6 

3,000 

2,750 

8 

do   

18x73.6 

3,000 

2,750 

6 

do   

18x73.6 

3,000 

2,750 

4 

do   

20x67 

3,000 

2,750 

438  Hudson,  n.  e.  c.  Morton, 

25x60 

6,000 

2,750 

440 

do   

12.6x60 

2,250 

2,250 

442 

do   

12.6x60 

2,250 

2,250 

444 

do   

12.6x60 

2,250 

2,250 

446 

do   

12.6x60 

2,250 

2,250 

448 

do   

12.6x160 

2,750 

2,750 

450 

do   

12.7x160 

2,750 

2,750 

452 

do   

12.6x100 

2,750 

2,750 

454 

do   

12.6x100 

2,750 

2,750 

456 

do   

25x100 

6,000 

6,000 

458 

do   

12.6x100 

2,750 

2,750 

460 

do   

12.6x100 

2,750 

2,750 

462 

do    s.e.  C.Barrow, 

25x100 

7,500 

7,500 

464 

do  n.  e.  c.  Barrow, 

24.5x100 

7,500 

7,500 

466 

do   

12.3x100 

2,750 

2,750 

468 

do   

12.3x100 

2,750 

2,750 

468^ 

\  do   

12.3x100 

2,750 

2,750 

470 

do   

12.3x100 

2,750 

2,750 

472 

do   

12.3x100 

2,750 

2,750 

474 

do   

12.3x100 

2,750 

2,750 

476 

do  ........ 

12.2x100 

2,750 

2,750 

478 

do   

12.2x100 

2,750 

2,750 

480 

do   

24.6x100 

6,000 

6,000 

482 

do   

24.6x100 

D,UUU 

No.  38. 

636  Greenwich,n.w.c. Morton  25.1x60 

5,500 

5,500 

25.1x104 

6,000 

6,000 

ON  AFFAIRS  OF    TRINITY  CHURCH. 


63 


25.1x105.6 

6,000 

6,000 

25.1x107 

6,000 

6,000 

d44 

,1  ^ 

16.9x84.6 

3,500 

3,500 

646 

16.9x85.6 

3,500 

3,500 

boO 

16.9x87.6 

3,500 

3,500 

do   

16.9x88.6 

3,750 

3,750 

0  04 

do  s.w.c.  Barrow. 

16 .8x89.6 

5,000 

5,000 

dOo 

do  D.w.c.  do 

26x80 

6,500 

6,000 

DOo 

22x80 

4,500 

4,500 

DOU 

19x80 

3,750 

3,750 

662 

do   

19x100 

4,000 

4,000 

664 

do   

19x100 

4,000 

4,000 

666 

do   

19x100 

4,000 

A  AAA 

4,000 

668 

do   

19x100 

^  c\f\(\ 

4,000 

A  r\f\f\ 

4,000 

670  Green wich-st.,  

19x100 

4,000 

4,000 

672 

do   

17 .8X.100 

SjOOU 

O   PC  A  A 

3,000 

617  Wash'n-st,.n.e.c.  Leroy, 

2oxb0 

X   K  A^i 

o,oOO 

(\(\[\ 

0,000 

619 

do   

Ci  t^-rrCi.(\ 

zoxoU 

A  AAA 

4,U0U 

K  AAA 
0,UOU 

621  . 

do   

25x90 

6,000 

6,000 

623 

do   

25x90 

6,000 

6,000 

625 

do   

25x90 

6,000 

6,000 

657 

do   

26x90 

6,000 

6,000 

531 

do  s.  e.  cor.  Barrow, 

2ox9U 

8,000 

A    K  A  A 

4,000 

633 

do  n.e.  cor.  Barrow, 

26x65 

5,750 

5,250 

641 

do   

26x106.10 

6,000 

6,000 

643 

do   

25x108 

6,000 

6,000 

156  Christopher-st.,  s.  e.  cor. 


Warren-st.  25x44.8 

6,000 

5,500 

154 

do 

5,500 

6,000 

152 

do 

  25x84 

5,000 

5,500 

150 

do 

5,000 

5,500 

148 

do 

5,000 

5,000 

146 

do 

5,000 

5,000 

144 

do 

4,500 

4,750 

No.  39. 


465  Hudson-street  n.  e.  cor. 

Barrow-st.,  19.11x83 


6,000 


6,000 


64 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


467 

20x83 

$4,750 

$4,750 

469 

do   

20x83 

4,750 

4,750 

487 

do   

36x125  I 

17,000 

17,000 

with  rear  equal  to 

36x175  I 

489 

20x75 

4,750 

4,750 

493 

^ 

20x75 

4,750 

4,750 

495 

do   

20x76 

5,000 

5,000 

497 

do  fnt  ou  Christop'r, 

20x77 

6,000 

6,000 

499 

do  s.  w.  cor.  do 

23x67 

4,500 

3,500 

160 

Earrow-streetj  

20x80 

3,750 

3,750 

162 

do   

20x80 

3,750 

3,750 

164 

20x80 

3,750 

3,750 

166 

do   

20x80 

3,760 

3,750 

643 

(jreenwicn-st.,  n.  e.  cor. 

Barrow-st. 

32x75 

5,500 

5,500 

645 

22x75 

4,000 

4,000 

647 

do   

22x75 

4,000 

4,000 

649 

do   

22x75 

4,000 

4,000 

651 

do   

20x75 

3,750 

4,000 

653 

do   

20x75 

3,750 

'3,750 

655 

do   

20x75 

3,750 

3,750 

657 

do   

20x75 

3,750 

3,850 

661 

do   

20x75 

3,750 

3,750 

665 

do   

20x75 

3,750 

3,750 

667 

do   

20x75 

3,750 

3,750 

669 

do   

20x75 

3,750 

3,750 

671 

20x75 

3,750 

3,750 

673 

do   

20x75 

4,000 

3,750 

675 

do   

20x75 

4,250 

4,000 

677 

do  s.e.cor.Christo'r 

15x60.3 

6,000 

5,500 

i  yxDU 

o,UUU 

o,UUU 

138 

do   

19x60 

3,000 

3,000 

136 

19x60 

3,000 

3,000 

134 

22x60 

3,250 

3,250 

$5,974,600  i 

^5,956,130 

Ely's.  Dodd's. 

$6,108,150  000    $6,031,350  00 


COMMUNICATION 


Of  the  Corporation  of  Trinity  Church  in  the  city  of  JVew-  York^  to 
the  Honorable  Mark  Spencer^  James  JYoxon  and  J.  H.  Ramsey^  a 
Committee  of  the  Senate  of  the  State  of  JVew-Yoik. 

To  the  Honorable  Committee  of  the  Senute  : 

The  rector,  church-wardens  and  vestrymen  of  Trinity  Church 
in  the  city  of  New- York,  beg  leave  to  make  the  following  reply 
to  a  note  of  the  committee  bearing  date  on  the  2d  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1856,  asking  for  certain  information  touching  the  matters  of 
the  report  made  by  this  body  to  the  honorable  Senate  on  the  15th 
day  of  February,  1856. 

The  resolutions  of  the  Senate,  to  which  that  report  was  a  re- 
sponse, required  the  number  and  names  of  the  persons  entitled, 
under  an  act  to  alter  the  name  of  the  corporation  of  Trinity 
Church  in  New- York,  and  for  other  purposes,  passed  January 
25th5  1814,  to  vote  at  the  annual  elections  for  church-wardens 
and  vestrymen  of  the  present  corporation  of  Trinity  Church, 
specifying  those  who  vote  as  communicants,  and  those  who  vote 
as  pew-holders  in  the  said  church,  and  the  names  of  the  per- 
sons so  entitled,  who  did  actually  vote  at  each  of  the  three  last 
elections  held  for  the  choice  of  church-wardens  and  vestrymen 
of  said  corporation.  In  the  report  above  referred  to,  this  corpo- 
ration designedly  refrained  from  giving  the  names,  but  furnished 
the  number  of  the  persons  entitled  to  vote,  and  of  the  persons 
who  did  actually  vote  at  the  elections  referred  to  in  the  resolu- 
tions of  the  Senate.  The  vestry  took  this  course  because  they 
supposed  that  the  number  of  the  corporators  of  Trinity  Church, 
either  exercising  or  refraining  from  the  exercise  of  the  privilege 
of  voting  at  elections,  might  be  material  to  some  point  that  the 
Senate  might  wish  to  determine,  but  that  the  names  of  such 
persons  could  not  be  material;  because  the  vestry  were  not 

5 


66 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


aware  that  the  liberty  to  inspect  a  list  of  such  names  had  ever 
been  refused  to  any  corporator,  because  the  vestry  believed  that 
the  honorable  Senate,  upon  receiving  the  report,  would  not,  at 
least  without  evidence  of  such  refusal,  exert  its  authority  for 
the  enforcement  of  a  mere  private  right,  and  much  less  for  the 
obtaining  information  of  no  public  importance,  which  might  be 
sought  by  individuals  who  had  themselves  no  legal  interest  to 
entitle  them  to  it;  and  because  the  vestry  being  aware  that  there 
existed  no  controversy  or  disagreement  among  the  members  of 
this  corporation,  were  apprehensive  that  the  publication  of  the 
names  asked  for  might  be  used  as  the  means  to  enable  persons 
not  corporators  to  attempt  to  influence  and  interfere  with  per- 
sons who  were  corporators,  and  to  create  dissensions,  where  now 
was  perfect  accord  and  harmony.  The  vestry  did  not,  and  do 
not  now  suppose  or  intend  to  intimate  that  the  honorable  Sen- 
ate intended  anything  more  than  to  procure  information  deemed 
by  them  material  for  that  body  to  know,  to  be  used  only  as  the 
means  of  guiding  their  discretion  in  the  performance  of  some 
legislative  act.  But  parties,  not  members  of  the  Senate,  who 
by  their  representations  have  induced  the  proposal  of  the  resolu- 
tions passed  by  that  body,  may  have  been  actuated  by  motives 
and  designs  of  which  the  honorable  Senate  is  not  cognizant;  but 
as  the  committee  has  now  reiterated  the  inquiry  of  the  Senate, 
the  vestry  do  not  consider  their  objections  to  making  a  reply  of 
sufficient  importance,  to  induce  them  to  withhold  making 
answer;  they  therefore  annex  Schedule  A,  showing  the  names 
of  corporators  who  are  communicants  and  not  pew-holders,  and 
of  those  who  are  pew-holders;  and  also  the  names  of  the  voters 
at  the  several  annual  elections  mentioned  in  the  report  to  the 
Senate.    These  lists  are  believed  to  be  accurate. 

For  the  more  full  and  satisfactory  statement  of  the  affairs  of 
this  corporation,  in  their  late  report  to  the  Senate,  the  vestry 
stated  amongst  other  things,  the  amount  of  the  bonds  and  mort- 
gages held  by  the  corporation  on  1st  May,  1855,  a  statement  not 
called  for  by  the  resolutions  of  the  Senate.  It  was  not  then 
deemed  material  to  include  in  such  statement,  bonds  and  mort- 
gages of  churches,  because  they  are  not  productive  of  income, 
and  although  the  vestry  possess  the  power  to  foreclose  them, 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


67 


they  are  in  reality  only  held  to  secure  to  the  permanent  use  of 
the  protestant  episcopal  church  of  the  United  States,  the  church 
buildings  and  property,  upon  the  security  of  which  this  body  has 
loaned  money  to  other  church  corporations,  for  their  aid  and 
support.  The  vestry  believe  that  no  measures  have  been  taken 
to  foreclose  any  of  such  mortgages  or  to  collect  interest  upon 
them,  although  the  interest  has  been  remitted  upon  one  or  ;nore 
of  such  mortgages,  when  the  lien  was  about  expiring  by  lapse  of 
time,  upon  an  agreement  being  made  to  revive  such  lien.  A 
schedule  of  such  mortgages  marked  B,  is  hereto  annexed,  show- 
ing in  respect  to  each  mortgage  its  date,  the  names  of  the  mort- 
gagors, and  the  amount  secured  thereby,  and  unpaid.  The 
vestry  also  annex  a  schedule  C ,  showing  the  same  particulars 
of  certain  productive  mortgages,  received  since  1st  May,  1855. 
Since  that  date  the  principal  sum  of  ^31,300  has  been  realized 
from  the  payment  of  mortgages  then  held  by  the  corporation. 
These  two  schedules,  B  and  C,  compehend  all  the  securities 
deemed  of  any  value,  which  are  now  held  by  this  corporation, 
and  not  comprised  in  their  last  report.  The  vestry  desire  to 
make  the  following  explanation  in  regard  to  the  inadvertent 
omission  in  their  former  report,  to  state  amongst  the  real  estate 
held  by  this  corporation,  their  interest  in  St.  John's  Park,  on 
Hudson  Square.  The  ground  comprehended  in  this  square  for- 
merly belonged  to  the  corporation  of  Trinity  church,  as  well  as 
the  lots  of  land  fronting  on  the  streets  opposite  the  same,  and 
had  been  laid  out  to  the  intent  that  it  should  be  and  remain  an 
ornamental  square  or  park  for  the  common  resort,  recreation  and 
enjoyment  of  the  persons  who  might  purchase  or  might  be  or 
become  lessees  of  lots  fronting  towards  the  same,  and  ol  their 
families  under  suitable  provisions  and  conditions  for  the  support 
and  maintenance  of  such  square,  by  such  owners.  Subsequently 
the  church  sold  all  the  lots  fronting  the  square,  excepting  only 
the  land  now  occupied  by  St.  John's  chapel  and  the  parsonage 
adjoining  the  same;  and  on  the  twenty-second  day  of  May,  1827, 
the  church  executed,  with  the  adjoining  owners,  a  declaration  of 
trust  by  which  it  was  agreed  that  this  corporation  should  and 
would  forever  hold  and  stand  seised  of  the  square,  upon  trust  to 
preserve  and  continue  the  same  forever  hereafter  as  a  private 


68 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


ornamental  park  or  square,  for  tlie  common  resort  and  recreation 
of  all  the  adjoining  owners,  their  heirs  and  assigns  and  of  their 
tenants;  with  the  provision  that  the  same  should  be  maintained, 
managed  and  controlled  by  the  adjacent  owners,  and  that  all 
taxes,  assessments  and  charges  upon  the  same  should  be  paid  by 
them ;  the  Church  always  to  pay  its  part  of  all  expenses  in  pro- 
portion to  its  ownership  of  adjacent  land.  This  declaration  of 
trust  however  contained  a  provision  that  if  at  any  time  thereafter 
this  corporation  and  so  many  of  the  adjacent  owners  as  should 
together  hold  and  possess  two-thirds  of  the  lots  fronting  the 
square,  should,  by  writing  under  their  respective  seals,  mutually 
agree  upon  any  other  disposition  to  be  made  of  said  park,  then 
it  should  be  lawful  tor  this  corporation,  in  their  discretion  to  dis- 
pose of,  sell  and  convey  the  said  park  or  square  in  such  manner 
and  for  such  purposes  as  should  or  might  be  expressed  in  such 
writing;  it  being  understood  and  expressly  agreed  that  in  case 
of  such  disposition  all  the  adjacent  owners  (including  the  church) 
should  severally  participate  in  and  enjoy  the  benefits  thence 
resulting,  according  to  the  actual  extent  in  front  of  the  land 
which  they  might  severally  own  fronting  the  square. 

At  the  time  of  preparing  the  last  report  by  this  body  to  the 
Senate,  so  long  time  had  elapsed  since  a  resort  for  any  purpose 
had  been  had  to  the  above-mentioned  declaration  of  trust,  that 
it  was  not  remembered  that  the  corporation  retained  any  benefi- 
cial property  in  the  square,  which  might,  under  certain  contin- 
gencies, prove  of  large  value,  or  indeed,  of  any  value.  After, 
however,  the  report  had  been  transmitted  to  the  Senate,  applica- 
tion to  this  vestry  was  made  by  more  than  two-thirds  of  the 
adjoining  proprietors,  asking  that  this  corporation  would  assent 
to  a  sale  of  the  whole  Square  to  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  for  the  erection  thereupon  of  public  buildings;  and  after 
much  hesitation,  and  after  great  importunity  by  the  adjacent 
owners,  the  vestry  declared,  by  resolution,  that  they  would 
assent  to  such  sale,  provided  it  were  made  at  such  a  price  as 
that  the  proportion  of  the  proceeds  to  come  to  the  church  should 
amount  to  the  sum  of  $400,000.  This,  and  this  only,  was  the 
w^hole  action  of  the  vestry,  in  relation  to  the  subject.  Consider- 
ations of  the  public  advantage,  by  keeping  the  grounds  open  as 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


69 


an  ornamental  square,  and  of  the  apprehended  injurious  effect 
upon  the  numbers  attending  St.  John's  chapel,  were  the  cause  of 
much  doubt  whether  this  body  ought  to  yield  to  the  wish  of  the 
owners,  and  determine  the  vestry  not  to  consent  to  a  sale  for 
any  price  except  a  very  large  one;  the  naming  of  which  was  only 
reached  after  much  discussion  and  opposition,  and  probably  was 
only  assented  to  by  several,  under  the  persuasion  that  a  sale  for 
such  price  could  not  be  made. 

The  contingency  under  which  the  interest  of  Trinity  church 
in  Hudson's  park  would  be  productive  of  value,  was  never  ex- 
pected to  arrive,  and  as  the  result  shows,  has  not  occurred  and 
may  never  occur.  The  vestry  have  never  included  this  property 
in  any  of  their  reports  to  the  Legislature  The  committee  of  the 
Senate,  in  their  above-mentioned  note,  request  that  this  body 
will  set  forth  a  schedule,  stating  the  real  value  of  each  lot  or 
parcel  of  land  held  by  this  corporation,  irrespective  of  the  leases 
thereon.  The  vestry,  in  their  last,  as  well  as  in  all  previous  re- 
ports on  this  subject,  furnished  the  value  of  the  real  estate 
referred  to,  as  estimated  for  purposes  of  taxation,  by  sworn  offi- 
cers of  the  city.  This  estimate  was  expressly  stated,  in  the  last 
report,  to  be  the  valuation  therein  reported,  and  was  made  the 
basis  of  all  the  calculations  therein  contained.  Doubtless,  many 
of  the  lots  comprised  in  the  schedules  annexed  to  that  report, 
are  worth  more  than  is  therein  set  down,  and  many  less.  The 
vestry  did  not  intend  to  depreciate  the  value  of  the  property  of 
the  corporation,  but  merely  to  give  the  only  accessible  estimate, 
expecting  it  to  receive  such  credit,  and  such  credit  only,  to 
which  it  might  be  justly  entitled.  But  statements  upon  such 
questions  are  mere  matters  of  opinion ;  and  the  vestry  are  unable 
to  agree  upon  any  estimate  of  their  own;  nor  do  they  think  it 
right  that  they  should  discredit  an  official  valuation  of  their  real 
estate  upon  the  basis  of  which  the  tenants  are  bound  to  pay  the 
taxes  and  assessments.  The  vestry  regret,  that  for  these  reasons 
they  are  unable  to  give  any  further  answer  on  this  point  than 
that  contained  in  their  report. 

WM.  E.  DUNSCOMB, 

Comptroller, 


EXHIBIT  J. 


SCHEDULE  A. 

Barnes  of  Corporators  who  are  Communicants  and  not  Pew-holders : 

Willidm  H.  Hobart,  Cyrus  Curtiss,  John  A.  Dix,  Abel  T.  An- 
derson, John  H.  Andrews,  Horace  B.  Alexander,  Benjamin  B. 
Barnes,  Anthony  Barclay,  Morton  Bullus,  Benjamin  1.  Barnes, 
Mathew  Campbell,  James  N.  Croft,  Thomas  A.  Demilt,  John 
Duncan,  James  B.  Douglass,  Orlando  P.  Dorman,  William  Berrian, 
Edward  Y.  Higbee,  Benjamin  I.  Haight,  John  H.  Hobart,  Sulli- 
van H.  Weston,  Francis  Vinton,  Frederick  Ogilby,  Morgan  Dix, 
John  F.  Young,  Henry  Weld,  Thomas  Maslin,  John  Dugan,  Ed- 
ward Hodges,  William  H.  Walter,  Michael  Erben,  Dayton  Ho- 
bart, Joseph  T.  Harris,  John  Hart,  Alexander  C.  Hintou,  Samuel 

G.  Huntington,  Hodge,  Nelson  Jarvis,  James  Knight,  

Kissam,  Adam  D.  Livingston,  Eugene  Ledentre,  Nathaniel  F. 
Moore,  John  A.  Mitchell,  John  G.^Mott,  Walter  T.  Marvin,  John 
P.  Miller,  William  P.  Morgan,  John  Maunder,  James  Neeves, 
Thomas  W.  Ogden,  John  H.  Oakley,  Alfred  Ogden,  Charles  H. 
Ogden,  Jehiel  I.  Post,  George  Starr,  Ogden  Southmayd,  Shearjus- 
hut  Spooner,  William  W.  Voorhis,  John  L.  Vandervoort,  Thomas 
Walke,  Edward  Windust,  James  Btown,  William  Bartlett,  Jere- 
miah L.  Clark,  James  Carruthers^  John  C.  Clarkson,  Clark- 
son,  Smith  Clift,  William  G.  Campbell,  Henry  F.  Drisler,  

Goddard,  William  A.  Guest,  A.  M.  Hart,  Thomas  Halen,  Lewis 
B.  Henry,  Charles  Hickman,  Jeremiah  F.  Jenkins,  Mathias  I. 
Miller,  George  C.  Morgan,  Pliny  S.  Mills,  George  C.  Pennell, 
Horace  Reid,  John  P.  Bitter,  John  Trenor,  Timothy  Tredwell, 
James  A.  Underhill,  Alfred  Underbill,  Ozier  B.  Wilson,  Alex- 
ander Walker,  C.  B.  Willson,  I.  B.  Wilson.— Number,  92. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


71 


Jfames  of  Corporators  as  Pew-holders. 

William  Sharpe,  Alfred  Wagstaff,  George  W.  Welles,  Thomas 
Warner,  Edward  Neiifville,  Richard  Ebbets,  Samuel  S.  Duns- 
comb,  Herman  Leroy,  Ebenezer  Irving,  I.  C.  Corp,  William 
Corp,  Robert  Cambridge  Livingston,  William  H.  Harrison,  Wil- 
liam Van  Hook,  Marcus  F.  Hodges,  David  Ljdig,  Francis  R. 
Tillou,  Augustus  Hammet,  George  G.  Sickles,  Joseph  Drake, 
William  G.  Hajdock,  Louis  Loutrell,  John  B.  Schenelzel,  Alex- 
ander McDonald,  Ephriam  Treadwell,  William  B.  Ballow,  Philip 
Embury,  George  P.  Cammann,  John  W^ebb,  Robert  Hyslop, 
John  D.  Willams,  James  F  Depeyster,  Henry  Youngs,  Christo- 
pher Heiser,  John  H.  Howland,  Samuel  V.  Hoffman,  Walter 
R.  Jones,  Henry  Suydam,  Peter  M.  Suydam,  Calvin  Durand, 
William  C.  Hey  ward,  Anthony  J.  Bleeker,  Peter  Goelet,  i^augh- 
ton  Osborn,  Anthony  B.  McDonald,  Adam  Norrie,  William  C. 
Dusenbury,  Clermont  Livingston,  W.  Q.  Morton,  H.  Morton, 
Joseph  D.  Beers,  Lewis  Curtis,  John  A.  Willink,  Herman  Thorne, 
John  Lloyd,  James  Jones,  D.  P.  Campbell,  William  H.  Win- 
throp,  William  Kemble,  John  A.  King,  Charles  King,  Robert  S. 
Hone,  T.  W.  Canning  Moore,  Thomas  B.  Gumming,  William 
C.  Anderson,  George  Jones,  Lewis  C.  Hamersly,  Thomas  W. 
Ludlow,  David  Clarkson,  Thomas  Bolton,  Gulian  C.  Verplanck, 
Alexander  Watts,  John  P.  Nesmith,  Richard  D.  Van  Wagenen, 
John  Newbould,  John  Warren,  John  J.  Boyd,  Francis  Cottenet, 
John  D.  Ogden,  H.  C.  De  Rham,  Thomas  D.  Moore,  Robert 
Dumont,  Christopher  Milderherger,  John  McVickar,  Edmund 
Elmendorf,  Gabriel  Winter,  Cornelius  Oakley,  Joseph  Batten, 
Charles  Brown,  David  D .  Lyon,  Hazleton  Walkley,  Edward  P. 
Cooke,  Frederick  Pentz,  John  Pentz,  George  Bell,  Richard  H. 
Ogden,  John  David  Wolfe,  Nicholas  S.  Ludlam,  Henry  J.  Seaman, 
Alexander  Gotheal^  John  Strang,  John  A.  Talman,  Abraham  R. 
Lawrence,  Christr.pher  Wolfe,  George  T.  Strong,  William  H. 
Shipman,  James  A.  Moore,  Joshua  Jones,  Humphrey  Rickertson, 
Nathaniel  Ferris,  Thomas  Gibson,  James  Warren,  Francis  V. 
Many,  Charles  H.  Clayton,  John  H.  Contoit,  Theodore  F.  Brett, 
Richard  M.  Lawrence,  J^cob  S.  Piatt,  David  Rogers,  John  R. 
Livingston,  John  Q.  Jones,  John  P.  Mumford,  Edward  J,  Innes, 


72 


RlLi'ORT  OF    SELECT  COMMITTEE. 


Joseph  p.  Pirsson,  William  H.  Falls,  Charles  W.  Sanford,  John 
Alstyne,  Albert  G.  Thorp,  Archibald  G.Rogers,  Alfred  Ashj5eldy 
William  H.  Priest,  Charles  N.  S.  Rowland,  James  Pirsson,  Tim- 
othy T.  Kissam,  Henry  Pitcher,  Martin  Hoffman,  Thomas  C. 
Taylor,  William  Watson,  William  E.  Dnnscomb,  Joseph  Hough, 
Thomas  H.  Thomas,  John  Ridley,  Richard  E.  Mount,  Alpheus 
Banning,  George  N.  Stebbins,  David  Reid,  Charles  Anthon^ 
Talman  Booth,  John  Langdon,  E.  W,  Candee^  Thomas  Holyoke^ 
John  B.  Miller,  George  A.  Baker,  John  Leconte,  John  B.  Pell,. 
B.  Aycrigg,  Frederick  R.  Spencer,  Peter  Erben,  John  S.  Smithy 
Theodore  Peck,  William  G.  Hammond,.  Joseph  Willoughby,  J.  E. 
Capert,  Thomas  R.  Ackly,.John  Horspooly  David  Cotheal, Thomas 
Gibbs,  James  Hillyer,  Eli  White,  William  Lowerre,.  Albert  Jour- 
neay,  Jr  ,  James  Wallace,  Thomas  N.  Stanford,  C.  B.  Ostrander^ 
Edward  E.  Sanderson,  William  Moore^  James  Barrow,  George 
Bruce,  Levinus  Clarkson,  Jr.,  George  Brooks,  Samuel  T.  Skid- 
more,  Clement  C.  Moore,  John  R.  McComb,.  Selah  Van  Duzer, 
James  Benkard^  Daniel  M.  Frey,  James  C.  Parker,  Thomas  C. 
Winthrop,  Charles  McAuly^  Samuel  Burrell^  Richard  Lawrence, 
Albert  Janeway,  Jonathan  J.  Coddington,  Cornelius  Purely,  Wil- 
liam McCall,  Thomas  C.  Butler,  William  Kemble,  John  Atwill, 
Edward  Dickson,  John  Duncan,  John  Johnson,  John  Barker^ 
John  C.  Hamilton^  John  C.  Smith,  James  Campbell,  Lindley  M. 
Hoffman,  Thomas  Maslin,  Sidney  Mason,  Philip  Burrell,  Alex- 
ander Meaken,  James  W.  Bleeker,  George  InneSy  George  M. 
Ogden,  Lyman  DenisoUy  Thomas  W.  Ludlow,  Richard  M.  Hari- 
son,  John  H.  Conner,  Joseph  R.  Bleeker,  George  R.  L  Bowdoin^ 
Thomas  Brown,  Louis  L  Piatt. — ^Number,  221. 

The  J^ames  of  the  Voters  at  the  Annual  Election  J  or  Church  Wardens 
and  Vestrymen  of  Trinity  Church  in  the  City  of  ^ew-Yorky  in 
each  of  the  years  next  mentioned^  mere  respectively  as  follows  : 

In  the  year  1846. 

James  F.  DePeyster,  Peter  Erben^  E.  W.  Butler,  Richard 
Whitey,  Joseph  Dacuna,  William  A.  Stichner,;  A.  L.  Underhill,. 
L.  W.  Noxtouy  Francis  V.  Many,  Joseph  D.  Beers,  Elam  |Bliss, 
Robert  Hyslop,  William  Van  Hook^  Samuel  Whitney,  John  A. 
Willink,  Joseph  Skillman,  William  H.  Harrison,  John  Webb, 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TSINITY  CHURCH. 


73 


Charles  Burdett,  Edward  W.  Laight,  John  LeMaire^  Henry 
Cotheal,  Archibald  G.  Rogers,  Peter  Embury,  John  Battin, 
Talbot  Pirsson,  John  E.  Isley,  Philip  Hone,  William  Johnson^ 
Thomas  Bolton,  Thomas  B.  Cuming,  George  Jones,  John  T.  At- 
kinson, Gulian  C.  Verplanck,  Garret  Storm^ Nicholas  S.  Ludlam^ 
Thomas  H.  Thomas,  Mr.-  Lee,  Thomas  Crow,  John  P.  Mum- 
ford,  Adam  Tredwell,  James  A.  Sparks,  John  H.  Whittaker^ 
John  H.  Swift,  Theodore  M.  Tuttle,  Thomas  D.  Moore,  Cornelius 
Oakley,  Humphrey  D.  Ricketson^  Edmund  Morewood,  Alex- 
ander L.  McDonald,  George  Brooks,  Henry  Youngs,  Abraham 
Warner,  Elias  G..  Drake,  Thomas  C.  Butler,  Joseph  P.  Pirsson, 
Jr.,  H.  D.  Neal,  James  J,  Jones,  William  H.  Hobart.  Moses  0. 
Cuftis,  Benjamin  W.  Rogers,  Anthony  B.  McDonald,  Richard 
Sill,  Thomas  L.  Clark,  William  W.  L.  Voorhis,  Philip  Henry, 
Nelson  Jarvis,  William  Barnes,  William  E.  Dunscomb,  Peter  A, 
Mesier,  Charles  W.  Hackley,  Alexander  J.  Cotheal,  Theodore 
Phillips,  Robert  R.  Greele,  Anthony  J.  Bleecker,  David  Lyon, 
Charles  N.  S.  Rowland,  David  B.  Ogden,  Alpheus  Banning, 
Edward  T.  Higbee,  Charles  Osborne,  Edward  Hodges,  Jeremiah 
L.  Clark,  Nathaniel  F.  Moore,  William  Kemble,  John  W.  Pirs- 
son, William  Moore,  Thomas  B,  C.  Berrian,  David  Cotheal^ 
Francis  R.  Tillou,  Thomas  Brown,  Samuel  G.  Raymond,  Stuart 
F.  Randolph,  John  Morrison,  James  Barron,  William  Berrian,, 
Theophilus  Peck. — Number  97. 

Voters  for  the  year  1847. 
Cornelius  Oakley,  A.  B.  McDonald,  J.  P.  Atkinson,  William 
H.  Morrison,  Gulian  C.  Verplanek,  William  Berrian,  Dr.  Edward 
Hodges,  Thomas  W^arner,  M.  J.  Miller,  Joseph  D.  Beers,  Antho- 
ny J.  Bleecker,  Lewis  Curtis,  Philip  Hone^  Garret  Storm,  David 

B.  Ogden,  Humphrey  Ricketson^  Thomas  W.  Ogden,  William 
W.  Voorhis,  Adam  Tredwell,  William  E.  Dunscomb,  Thomas 
L.  Clark,  John  H.  Tallman,  William  Barnes,  John  P.  Mumford, 
David  D.  Lyon,  Philip  Henry,  Nelson  Jarvis,  Anthony  L.  Under- 
bill, Henry  Cotheal,  T.  T.  Kissam,  Alexander  J.  Cotheal,  Thomas 

C.  Butler,  William  Morris,  T.  S.  Brown,  Samuel  G.  Raymond, 
Alexander  L.  McDonald,  Henry  Youngs,  James  Barron,  James 
C.  Hooker,  Robert  Hyslop,  John  Morrison,  Charles  Osborn 
David  CotheaL — Number  43. 


74 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Voters  for  the  Year  1848. 

Rev.  Edward  T.  Higbee,  Cornelius  Oakley,  David  B.  Ogden, 
Rev.  William  Berrian,  William  H.  Harison,  Edward  Hodges, 
Gulian  C.  Verplanck, Matthias  G.  Miller,  David  D.  Lyon,  Dayton 
Hobart,  A.  B.  McDonald,  John  R.  Livingston,  jr.,  Rev.  Martin 
P.  Parks,  Adam  Tredwell,  William  E.  Dunscomb,  Rev.  William 
Morris,  William  W.  L.  Voorhis,  Edward  W.  Laight,  William 
Barnes,  Thomas  L.  Clark,  Philip  Henry,  William  H.  Priest, 
Alexander  L  Cotheal,  Richard  E.  Mount,  Thomas  C.  Butler, 
Joseph  P.  Pirsson,  John  W.  Pirsson,  Thomas  B.  C.  Berrian, 
Alexander  L.  McDonald,  Samuel  T.  Skidmore,  Charles  Osborn, 
John  Webb,  Henry  Youngs,  Samuel  G.  Raymond,  John  C.  Ball, 
David  Cotheal,  Robert  Hyslop.    JVumher^  37. 

Voters  for  the  Year  1849. 

William  W.  Bours,  John  R.  Livingston,  jr.,  William  H.  Hari- 
son, Anthony  J.  Bleecker,  Edward  T.  Higbee,  Gulian  C.  Ver- 
planck, John  Lloyd,  Edward  Hodges,  Philip  Hone,  David  B. 
Ogden,  George  C.  Morgan,  Dayton  Hobart,  A.  B.  McDonald,  H. 
Morton,  David  D.  Lyon,  E.  M.  Peck,  George  Starr,  John  Al- 
styne,  John  W.  Pirsson,  Richard  Mount,  Cornelius  Oakley,  Ed- 
ward W.  Laight,  Joseph  Battin,  Theodore  M.  Tuthill,  William 
H.  Walter,  Alexander  J.  Cotheal,  William  W.  L.  Voorhies, 
Thomas  L.  Clark,  Edwin  B.  Clayton,  Adam  Tredwell,  Alpheus 
Banning,  Nicholas  S.  Ludlam,  William  E.  Dunscomb,  Thomas 
W.  Ogden,  David  Cotheal,  William  Moore,  Alexander  L.  Mc- 
Donald, Samuel  T.  Skidmore,  Peter  Erben,  James  Campbell, 
Elias  G.  Drake,  Joseph  Skillman,  sen.,  Thomas  Brown,  Henry 
Youngs,  Samuel  G.  Raymond,  Philip  Henry,  Peter  Embury, 
Abraham  B.  Skillman,  John  Scoles,  John  Morgan,  John  C.  Zim- 
merman, James  Barrow,  Robert  Hyslop,  George  R.  J.  Bowdoin. 
JYumber^  54. 

Voters  for  the  Year  1850. 
John  R.  Livingston,  jr.,  William  Berrian,  Rev.  Edward  T. 
Higbee,  William  H.  Harison,  Samuel  S.  Dunscomb,  Wm.  Cox 
Dusenbury,  Gulian  C.  Verplanck,  Matthias  I  Miller,  David  D. 
Lyon,  Cornelius  Oakley,  Adam  Tredwell,  William  E.  Dunscomb, 
Thomas  L.  Clark,  Edward  W.  Laight,  William  H.  Walter,  E.  B. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


75 


Clayton,  Thomas  C.  Butler,  Alexander  L.  McDonald,  Samuel  T. 
Skidmore,  Philip  Henry,  Henry  Youngs  H.  D.  Neil,  Thomas 
Brown.    JYumber^  23. 

Voters  for  the  Year  1851. 
Jeremiah  F.  Jenkins,  Franklin  Babbett,  Anthony  J.  Bleecker, 
Edward  T,  Higbee,  William  H.  Harrison,  William  Berrian,  John 
R.  Livingston,  Jr.,  Samuel  S.  Dunscomb,  John  P.  Nesmith, 
George  T.  Strong,  Archibald  G.  Rogers,  John  Lloyd,  Cyrus  Cur- 
tiss,  David  D.  Lyon,  John  I.  Boyd,  Matthew  I.  Miller,  William 
Corp,  John  C.  Corp,  Dayton  Hobart,  George  C.  Morgan,  Gulian 
C.  Verplanck,  Edward  Hodges,  George  Jones,  John  H.  Brewster, 
William  S.  Ludlam,  Edward  W.  Laight,  William  E.  Dunscomb, 
Cornelius  Oakley,  Henry  Weld,  John  P.  Mumford,  Thomas  L. 
Clark,  William  H.  Walter,  James  Neeves,  Richard  H.  Ogden, 
Charles  N.  S.  Rowland,  Thomas  W.  Ogden,  Nelson  Jarvis,  Nich- 
olas S.  Ludlam,  Edwin  B.  Clayton,  Henry  I  Seaman,  William  H. 
Falls,  Alpheus  Banning,  John  Alstyne,  Samuel  Bell,  John  H. 
Tallman,  Nathaniel  F.  Moore,  Thomas  C.  Butler,  Morgan  Dix, 
Samuel  T.  Skidmore,  Alexander  L.  McDonald,  James  Campbell, 
James  Barrow,  Philip  Henry,  Thomas  C.  Winthrop,  Jonathan  I. 
Coddington,  James  Wallace,  Thomas  Brown,  John  L.  Yander- 
uoortj  Henry  D.  Neal,  Henry  Youngs,  Thomas  Maslin,  Abraham 

B.  Skillman,  Joseph  Skillman,  Sen.,  Stuart  F.  Randolph,  David 
Cotheal.    JYumber^  65. 

Voters  for  the  Year  1852. 
John  R.  Livingston,  Samuel  S.  Dunscomb,  Edward  Hodges, 
George  Templeton  Strong,  Cyrus  Curtiss,  David  D.  Lyon,  Peter 
Erben,  Wm.  H.  Harison,  Wm.  Berrian,  Anthony  J.  Bleecker, 
Joseph  Hough,  A.  B.  McDonald,  Edwin  B.  Clayton,  Henry  Weld, 
Corlelins  Oakley,  Thomas  L.  Clark,  William  E.  Dunscomb, 
William  H.  Falls,  Nelson  Jarvis,  George  P.  Cammann,  Thomas 

C.  Butler,  Philip  Henry,  Morgan  Dix,  Henry  Youngs,  Alex.  L. 
McDonald,  Samuel  T.  Skidmore,  Thomas  Maslin,  James  Barron^ 
William  Moore,    J\^umberj  29. 

Voters  for  the  Yei.r  1853. 
J.  S.  B.  Hodges,  Jeremiah  Jenkins,  R.  William  Berrian,  John 
R.  Livingston,  William  H.  Harison,  Anthony  J.  Bleecker,  Thomas 


76 


REPORT  OF    SELECT  COMMITTEE. 


F.  Frank,  David  Lyon,  Peter  Erben,  Daniel  Sheldon,  George  C 
Morgan,  William  Penn  Morgan,  John  I.  Boyd,  John  P.  Nesmith^ 
Edward  Hodges,  Ferdinand  Lawrence,  Cyrus  Curtiss,  Joseph  D. 
^eers,  John  H.  Oley,  John  F.  Miller,  Samuel  S.  Dunscomb, 
James  Brown,  Anthony  B.  McDonald,  Matthias  I.  Miller,  Lewis 
Philips,  James  F.  Otis,  Robert  Cambridge  Livingston,  George  1. 
Rogers,  Charles  N.  S.  Rowland,  Edward  N.  Peck,  Archibald 
Rogers,  John  A.  Mitchell,  Edward  N.  Rogers,  Rev.  Benj.  I. 
Haight,  Thomas  L.  Clark,  Thomas  A.  Demilt,  Edward  Windust, 
James  Nevis,  Ozier  B.  Wilson,  Nicholas  S.  Ludlam,  John  Alstyne, 
Henry  Weld,  John  G.  Mott,  Thomas  W.  Ogden,  Richard  H. 
Ogden,  Frederick  Pentz,  Matthew  Campbell,  W^illiam  E.  Duns- 
comb,  Francis  V.  Many,  Thomas  D.  Moore,  Joseph  P.  Pirsson, 
Philip  Henry,  John  Hart,  M.  D.,  John  Paige  Mumford,  George 
T.  Adee,  James  Wallace,  Thomas  C.  Butler,  John  H.  Murphy, 
Samuel  T.  Skidmore,  Samuel  Burrell,  Thomas  C.  McRae,  Thomas 
Brown,  William  S.  Campbell,  John  P.  Ritter,  John  Balkley,  Jr., 
Thomas  C.  Winthrop,  Joseph  R.  Bleecker,  John  H.  Cornell,  John 
Duncan,  Abraham  B.  Skillman,  Alexander  Walker,  George  P. 
Cammann,  Lewis  B.  Henry,  Robert  Hyslop,  Clement  C.  Moore, 
William  Moore,  Alex.  L.  McDonald,  C.  V.  B.  Ostrander,  Henry 
Youngs,  Nathaniel  F.  Moore,  David  Cotheal,  Peter  Embury, 
William  B.  Ballon,  Dayton  Hobart,  John  Lloyd,  Thomas  W.  C. 
Moore,  George  C.  Fennell,  George  T.  Strong,  Cornelius  Oakley, 
John  H.  Tallman,  William  H.  Walter,  Jehiel  I.  Post,  John  H. 
Andrews,  William  W.  L.  Voorhies,  Joseph  Hough,  Pliny  S.  Mills, 
Abraham  R.  Lawrence,  John  D.  Ogden,  M.  D.,  Richard  M.  Lau- 
rence, Alexander  L  Cotheal,  Prof.  Charles  W.  Hackley,  Samuel 
Rogers,  William  Hinton,  Alexander  Chalmers  Hinton,  Alpheus 
Banning,  Anthony  Barclay,  John  McVickar,  William  H.  Falls, 
John  A.  Moore,  Nelson  Jarvis,  Charles  Hickman,  Samuel  Jones, 
Thomas  Maslin,  John  S.  Smith,  Ogden  Southmayd,  John  Webb, 
Louis  Loutrel,  Theophilus  Peck,  Elias  G.  Drake,  William  G. 
Haycock,  John  L.  Yandervoort,  John  Morison,  Abel  T.  Ander- 
son, Francis  R.  Tillou,  John  A.  Dix^  James  Bargon,  Jonathan  L 
Coddington.    JYumber  127. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


77 


Votes  for  the  Year  1854. 
Rev.  Dr.  Higbee,  George  T.  Strong,  John  R.  Livingston,  Thos. 
Scott,  A.  B.  McDonald,  Samuel  S.  Dunscomb,  David  D'.  Lyon, 
Daniel  Sheldon,  Cyrus  Curtiss,  John  S.  Mumford,  Pliny  S.  Mills, 
John  H.  Tallman,  Richard  H.  Ogden,  William  E.  Dunscomb, 
John  A.  Mitchell,  Thomas  A.  Demilt,  Henry  Weld,  Cornelius 
Oakley,  Nicholas  S.  Ludlam,  Thomas  C.  Butler,  Samuel  T.  Skid- 
more,  A.  L.  McDonald,  Henry  Youngs,  Robert  Hyslop,  Abel  T. 
Anderson,  Thomas  Maslin.    JYumber^  26. 

Voters  for  the  Year  1855. 
Dr.  Edward  Hodges,  John  H.  Oley,  Charles  H.  Oley,  William 
H.  Harison,  John  R.  Livingston,  Matthias  J.  Miller, D.  D.  Lyon, 
A.  B.  McDonald,  A.  J.  Blacke,  Samuel  S.  Dunscomb,  John  Du- 
gan,  Cyrus  Curtiss,  William  Berrian,  John  P.  Mumford,  Henry 
Richard  H.  Ogden,  William  H.  Walter,  John  A.  Mitchell,  Cor- 
nelius Oakley,  William  H.  Falls,  Nicholas  S.  Ludlam,  William 
E.  Dunscomb,  Thomas  C.  Butler,  Theophilus  Peck,  Thomas 
Brown,  R.  M.  Harison,  Samuel  T.  Skidmore,  A.  L.  McDonald, 
Henry  Youngs,  George  P.  Cammann,  Henry  Erben,  Thomas  Mas- 
lin.   JVumber^  32. 


SCHEDULE  B. 

Names  of  Mortgagors  and  Date.  Principal  amount, 

due  and  unpaid. 

St.  Paul's  church,  Poughkeepsie,  April  26,  1839,..  $5,000  00 
St.  Ann's     do     Port  Jackson,  formerly  Amster- 
dam, Sept.  7,  1838,   1,500  00 

St.  Bartholomew's  church,  N.  Y.,  June  1,  1837,....  20,000  00 
St.  John's  church,  Medina,  Orleans  county,  Febru- 
ary 5,  1838,   1,500  00 

Grace  church.  South  Middleton,  Orange  county, 

Jan.  12,  1852,   1,750  00 

Grace  church,  Rochester,  July  31, 1834,   3,500  00 

St.  Clement's  church,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  24,  1836,   15,000  00 

St.  Philip's       do       do     Aug.  4,  1835,   9,000  00 

St.  Luke's        do       do     May  2,  1839,   15,000  00 

St.  Paul's         do       Richmond,  Ontario  county, 

Oct.  16,  1849,   500  00 


78  REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 

Names  of  Mortgagors  and  Date.  Principal  amount 

due  and  unpaid. 

St.  Paul's  church,  Kinderhook,  Columbia  county. 

May  17,  1852,   $1,000  00 

St.  John's  ch'h,  Clyde,  Wayne  county,  Mar.  11,1853,  800  00 
St.  Mary's  church,  Beekman,  Dutchess  county,  April 

13,  1853,   900  00 

Church  of  the  Intercession,  N.  Y.,  April  13, 1852. . .  1 ,000  00 

Christ  Church, Tarrytown,  July  9,  1852,   1,000  00 

Church  of  the  Annunciation,  N.  Y.,  May  3,  1839,. .  6,000  00 

St.  Peter's  church,  N.  Y.,  June  14,  1837,   25,000  00 

Zion             do     Rome,  Oct.  11,  1852,   1,000  00 

Calvary         do     Utica,  Sept.  28,  1852,   500  00 

St.  Paul's      do     Syracuse,  March  11,  1835,   1 ,800  00 

St.  Luke's      do     Brooklyn,  March  23,  1842,   1  ,500  00 

Christ  do  Oyster  Bay,  L.  I.,  July  27, 1844,  600  00 
S.  Paul's  church.  Pleasant  Valley,  Dutchess  county, 

May  15,  1847,   500  00 

Church  of  the  Holy  Apostles,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  16, 1847,  2,000  00 

do             do              do     Feb.  18,1847,.  4,000  00 

Zion  church,  N.  Y.,  April  27,  1853,   7,000  00 

St.  Luke's  church,  N.  Y.,  June  9,  1851,   1,400  00 

Church  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  N.  Y.,  Nov,  12, 1850,  800  00 

do     the  Epiphany,  Oct.  27,  1847,   5,486  02 

St.  John's  church,  Brooklyn,  April  11,  1827, ......  4,000  00 

S.  Thomas's  do      Amenia,  Dutchess  county,  July 

17,1851,   500  00 

Trinity  church,  West  Troy,  Oct.  7,  1851,   1,000  00 

St.  Peter's  do    Peekskill,  March  19,  1839,   1,000  00 

St.  John's  do    Kingston,  Ulster  county,  June  26, 

1839,   1,700  00 

St.  Luke's  church,  Rosseville,  Staten  Island,  May 

15,  1846,   1,500  00 

St.  Mary's  church,  Castleton,  Richmond  county,  July 

5,  1853,   1,000  00 

St.  Mark's  church,  Newark,  Wayne  county.  May  9, 

1854,  ,   500  00 

Trinity  church,  Granville,  Wayne  county,  Dec.  3, 

1851,   1,000  00 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH.  79 

Names  of  Mortgagors  and  Dates.  Principal  amount 

due  and  unpaid. 

Grace  church,  Clinton,  St.  Lawrence  county, Feb.  1, 

1843,   §500  00 

Grace  church,  Waterville,  Oneida,  Dec.  31,  1852,. .  1 ,000  00 

*St.  Thomas's  church,  New-York,  May  9,  1831,. . . .  20,000  00 

Church  of  the  Nativity,  New- York,  April  13,  1837,  7,200  00 

St.  Barnabas  church,  Dearman,  April  18,  1854,   1,000  00 

Church  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  Stockport,  Co- 
lumbia county,  Nov.  9,  1851,   1,000  00 

Christ  Protestant  Episcopal   church,  New-York, 

April  29,  1853,   25,000  00 

Grace  church,  Albany,  Oct.  17,  1853,   1 ,000  00 

All  Saints  church,  N.Y.,  5  ^Sy^JJzVlS^^  '''''' 

St.  Andrew's  do     Harlaem,  Jan.  21,1834,   4,000  00 

St.  Mary's       do     Manhattanville,  July  22,  1836,  1,289  13 

Christ            do     Coxsackie,  July  5,  1853,   500  00 

Calvary          do     Williamsburgh,  Nov.  5,  1853,. .  500  00 

St.  Mark's      do             do           May  12,  1853,.  6,000  00 

St.  Paul's  do  do  400  00 
Church  of  the  Annunciation,  on  14th-st.5  N.  Y., 

Feb.  18,  1854,   5,000  00 

Church  of  the  Holy  Evangelists,  and  St.  George's 

chapel,  N.  Y.,  July  21,  1851,   50,000  00 

Church  of  Ascension,  Green  Point,  King's  county, 

Sept.  14,  1855,   1,000  00 

Church  of  the  Messiah,  Greenbiish,  county  of  Rcds- 

selaer^JuIy  31,  1855,   1,500  00 

Church  of  the  Messiah,  Rhinebeck,  Dutchess  county, 

Sept.  15,  1855,   1,000  00 

Assignment,  Samuel  P.  Townsend's  bonds  on  the 

church  of  the  Holy  Innocents,  N.  Y.,Dec.  10,1853,  500  00 
St.  Luke's  church,  Jamestown,  Chautauque  county, 

Dec.  21,  1855,   1,000  00 

Christ  church,  Coxsackie,  Greene  county,  Jan.  29, 

1856,   1,000  00- 

*AU  of  the  above  bear  interest  from  daie,  except  St.  Thomas''  church,  N.  Y.,  •which 
bears  interest  from  May  &,  1856. 


80 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Names  of  Mortgagors  and  Date.  Principal  amount 

due  and  unpaid 

Grace  church,  Brooklyn  Heights,  May,  1849,   $8,000  00 

All  Saint's  church,  Feb.  21, 1829,   5,000  00 

do  Sept.  20,  1856,   8,000  00 

St.  Luke's  church,  Mechanicsville,  Saratoga  county 

Nov,  17,  1856,  ,   500  00 

Trinity  church,  Haverstraw,  April  17,  1856,   1,200  00 

Church  of  the  Messiah,  Glen's  Falls,  Nov.  12,  1856,     2,000  00 
St.  Paul's  church,  Williamsburgh,  June  28,  1850,..      1,000  00 
do  do  Nov.  1,  1856,. ..        500  00 

$319,525  15 

SCHEDULE  C. 


NAMES  OF  MORTGAGORS. 

Date. 

Principal  and  am'nt  due  and  unpaid. 

Principal. 

Interest  from. 

James  M.  Tuthill,  

do   

James  H.  Noe,  

Matthias  Clark,  

Alvin  Higgins,  

Alex'r  M.  L.  Scott,  

Mar.  24,1856, 
Apr.  21, 1856, 

do 

do 

do 

do 

July  1,  1856, 

$8,000  00 
10,000  00 
10,000  00 
8,000  00 
4,000  00 
13,000  00 
6,000  00 

Sept.24,  1856. 
Nov.  1,  1856. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

July  1,  1856 

State  of  New- York,  ) 
City  and  County  of  JYew  York.  ^ 

We,  the  corporation  called  the  Rector,  Church- war  dens,  and 
Vestrymen  of  Trinity  Church,  in  the  city  of  New- York,  do  here- 
by certify  and  declare  the  preceding  to  be  the  supplemental 
report  of  said  corporation,  adopted  on  the  16th  day  December, 
instant,  made  in  response  to  a  note  of  the  Honorable  Mark  Spen- 
cer, James  Noxon,  and  Joseph  H.  Ramsey,  a  committee  of  the 
Honorable  the  Senate  of  this  State,  dated  the  2d  day  of  Decem- 
ber, instant,  and  that  William  E.  Dunscomb,  Esquire,  by  whom 
the  said  supplemental  report  is  signed,  is  the  comptroller  of 
the  said  corporation. 

In  witness  whereof  we  have  caused  our  seal  to  be  here- 
[l.  s.]    unto  affixed,  this  eighteenth  day  of  December,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-six. 

By  order  of  the  Corporation  of  Trinity  Church,  in  the  city  of 
New-York.  RICHARD  HAYDEN,  Clerk  of  the  Vestry, 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


81 


To  the  Honorable  Mark  Spencer^  James  JYoocorij  and  Joseph  H.  Ram- 
sey ^  a  committee  of  the  Honorable  the  Senate  of  the  State  of  JYew- 
York : 

I,  William  E.  Dunscomb,  of  the  city  of  New- York,  do  hereby 
certify  and  declare  that  I  am  the  comptroller  of  the  corporation 
styled  the  Rector,  Church-wardens,  and  Vestrymen  of  of  Trinity 
Church,  in  the  city  of  New- York,  and  that  it  is  part  of  my  duty 
to  keep  the  books  and  accounts  of  said  corporation;  that  the 
preceding  supplemental  report  to  the  committee  above-named, 
with  the  schedules  annexed,  marked  respectively  A,  B,  and  C, 
have  been  made  out  by  me  or  under  my  direction;  that  I  know 
the  contents  thereof,  and  believe  the  same  to  be  in  all  respects 
just  and  true. 

WM.  E.  DUNSCOMB,  Comptroller. 
Dated  December  ISth,  1856. 


6 


EXHIBIT  M. 

Examination  of  the  Report  of  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church  before 
Committee  appointed  by  the  Senate. 

New- York,  2d  December,  1856. 
Present,  Committee — Mark  Spencer,  James  Noxon,  Joseph 
Ramsey. 

Frederick  M.  Winston ,  sworn. — Q.  Have  you  made  yourself 
acquainted  with  the  mortgages  held  by  Trinity  Church  1  A.  Yes, 
sir. 

Q.  Did  you  obtain  your  knowledge  from  the  office  of  the  reg- 
ister?  A.  I  did. 

Q.  Have  you  also  examined  the  register's  office  for  all  the 
mortgages  of  Trinity  Church  ?   A.  Yes,  sir. 

Q.  Is  this  a  true  account  of  said  mortgages?  A.  It  is,  I  believe^ 
Q.  Are  these  all  the  mortgages  on  the  record  from  the  begin- 
ning?   A.  I  believe  they  are. 

Papers  rendered  by  F.  M.  Winston  marked  exhibits  A.  and  B. 
Copy  of  letter  to  vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  29th  November,  on 
file,  marked  C. 

Reply  of  Trinity  Church  to  above  communication,  on  file, 
marked  D. 

Copy  of  answer  to  Trinity  Church,  on  file,  marked  E. 
Adjourned  to  3d  instant,  10  A.  M. 

3rf  December  J  1856—10  ^.  M, 
Committee  met — Present,  all  the  members. 
Charles  H.  Clayton  sworn. — Q.  Do  you  belong  to  the  congre- 
gation of  Trinity  Church?   A.  Yes,  sir. 
Q.  Which  one?    A.  Trinity  chapel. 

Q.  As  one  of  the  corporators  ?  A.  We  hire  a  pew  in  4he 
chapel ;  there  are  no  corporators  there  as  pew  holders;  a  pew  hold- 
er is  not  a  voter  except  he  be  a  communicant;  they  have  raised 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


83 


the  base  within  a  few  months  by  which  I  hold  my  pew  ;  this  is 
now  the  mode  in  which  the  pews  are  let.  Lease  left,  filed  F.  The 
lease  lasted  one  year  when  the  alteration  was  made  ;  change 
took  place  about  the  last  of  last  April. 

Q  Do  you  think  Trinity  Church  has  done  its  utmost  to  make 
the  capital  of  the  property  of  that  corporation  available  for  the 
founding,  or  support  or  promotion  of  religious,  charitable  or 
educational  institutions  or  purposes  1   A.  I  do  not. 

John  W,  Ritck^  architect^  stwrn. — Have  resided  in  the  city  of 
New- York  since  1830  ;  have  been  engaged  as  architect  daily 
since  2d  March,  1834,  in  this  city  ;  have  been  in  business  for  my- 
self since  1846.  My  business  is  principally  improving  property 
to  make  it  productive  to  the  owners  ;  have  made  many  designs 
for  buildings  in  all  parts  of  the  city,  and  consider  myself  able  to 
judge  of  the  value  of  real  estate  in  all  parts  of  the  city.  Have 
had  before  me  a  pamphlet  schedule  submitted  to  the  Legislature 
by  Trinity  Church,  and  from  that  have  made  a  sketch  of  all  lots 
therein  mentioned^  and  as  accurately  as  possible  without  an 
actual  survey.  These  maps  are  copies  from  the  tax  commis- 
sioners' office,  made  by  surveyors  employed  by  city  officers  to 
make  assessmentSc  The  values  placed  upon  the  lots  by  me  are 
believed  to  be  accurate. 

This  map  of  the  city  of  New- York,  shows  by  the  red  patches 
upon  it  the  property  owned  by  Trinity  Church.  One  lot, 
76  Chambers-street,  I  know,  sold  for  $16,000,  an  actual  sale, 
afterwards  for  $30,0U0,  which  was  abandoned,  since  for  $37,500, 
an  actual  sale,  and  is  now  worth  $50,000,  not  the  property  of 
Trinity  Church  but  in  the  immediate  neigborhood 

My  valuation  is  cash,  for  the  ground  only,  what  it  would 
bring  at  auction  at  the  Merchants'  Exchange  to-morrow. 

Ahner  L.  Ely^  sworn. — Reside  in  Green-street^  am  agent  for  the 
care  of  real  estate,  agent  for  the  estates  A.  Loubat,  C.  F. 
Moulton  and  all  the  London  branch  of  the  Astor  family.  My 
occupation  has  led  me  to  have  acquaintance  with  property  in  all 
parts  of  the  city  ;  have  appraised  property  for  insurance  compa- 


84 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTED 


nies  to  loan  upon.  I  have  looked  at  all  the  maps  made  by  Mr 
Ritch  5  have  put  a  valuation  upon  a  majority  where  they  were 
regular  lots,  which  schedule  of  valuation  he  leaves  and  is  marked. 
Said  estimate  of  valuation  is  what  it  will  bring  for  cash  in  the 
auction  room.  There  are  a  number  of  irregular  lots  on  map  20^ 
upon  which  I  have  put  no  valuation,  also  on  map  22,  also  on 
map  32  ;  have  estimated  according  to  what  property  immediately- 
opposite  has  rented  for  on  short  leases.  The  value  of  property 
has  increased  very  much  within  a  few  years,  from  Fulton  to 
Eeade-street.  I  esteem  the  present  market  price  too  high  to 
warrant  permanent  investments  between  those  streets,  and  there- 
fore the  prices  might  be  unjust  to  fix  as  the  basis  for  the  terms 
of  a  new  lease  of  twenty-one  years.  The  property  from  Reade 
to  Canal-streets,  is  now  changing,  and  there  have  been  but  few 
sales  recently,  from  which  to  fix  the  present  cash  value. 

Rev.  John  Henry  Hohart^sworn. — Am  assistant  minister  of  Trinity 
Church  ;  have  been  minister  in  the  parish  eight  years. 

Q.  Do  you  think  Trinity  Church  has  done  its  utmost  to  make 
the  capital  of  the  property  of  that  corporation,  available  for  the 
founding  or  support  or  promotion  of  religious,  charitable  or 
educational  institutions  or  purposes  ?  A.  I  believe  at  present 
that  there  is  a  desire  to  make  their  property  the  most  available  ; 
I  believe  that  in  certain  matters,  more  might  have  been  done  to 
make  the  property  available. 

Edward  G.  Higbee,  sworn, — Have  been  assistant  minister  iu 
Trinity  Church  for  about  eighteen  years. 

Q.  Do  you  think  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  has  done  its 
utmost  to  make  the  capital  of  the  property  of  that  corporation, 
available  for  the  founding,  or  support  or  promotion  of  religious, 
charitable  or  educational  institutions  or  purposes  1,  A.  Almost 
from  the  period  of  my  connection  with  the  parish,  there  have 
been  circumstances  which  have  prevented  in  some  degree  the  full 
benefit  to  be  derived  from  this  fund.  I  am  at  present  not  able 
to  answer  whether  the  vestry  have  done  the  most  to  make  the 
fund  so  available.  I  understand  that  all  communicants  for  one 
year  preceding  the  election,  and  all  persons  holding  a  pew 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


85 


^direct  from  the  vestry,  have  the  right  to  vote.  I  have  never 
been  able  to  see  a  list  of  the  corporators  of  Trinity  Church. 
Dr.  Wainwright  and  myself  have  made  several  efforts  to  obtain 
such  a  list  unsuccessfully.  Dr.  Wainwright  after  being  made 
bishop,  told  me  he  did  receive  such  a  list.  The  list  is  kept  in 
the  office  of  Trinity  Church,  and  in  charge  of  the  controller  ;  on 
making  enquiries  for  such  a  list,  was  told  it  was  in  the  joint 
charge  of  said  controller  and  rector.  There  was  an  ordinance 
of  the  vestry  interfering  in  some  respects  with  the  privilege  of 
voting  in  Trinity  Chapel  for  a  time,  which  was  subsequently 
rescinded, 

Jesse  Pound  J  sworn :  Am  clergyman  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
church,  have  been  so  for  eighteen  years  in  this  city;  was  con- 
siderably acquainted  with  the  proceedings  of  Trinity  Church  in 
managing  their  fund.  I  do  not  consider  the  trust  has  been  ad- 
ministered in  such  a  way  as  best  to  promote  the  object  for  which 
it  was  given.  Their  course,  in  certain  instances,  to  my  knowl- 
edge has  been  partial.  I  apeak  of  their  partiality  as  a  fact,  to 
my  certain  knowledge.  It  is  a  notorious  fact,  that  while  some 
churches  have  had  aid  to  an  excessive  amount,  others  have  been 
entirely  cut  off  or  proscribed.  My  period  of  ministry  here  ex- 
pired the  first  of  May  last;  had  charge  of  a  free  church  in  this 
city,  principally  attended  by  people  who  had  no  means  of  hiring 
their  own  seats.  There  was  not  a  wealthy  individual  in  the  con- 
gregation; applied  to  Trinity  church  for  aid  to  sustain  the  church, 
which  was  granted;  a  partial  aid;  $400,  for  several  years,  then 
reduced;  then  a  movement  was  made  to  withdraw  it.  This  was 
the  first  church  founded  in  the  city  by  individual  charity.  For 
some  reason,  a  prejudice  was  conceived;  a  proscriptive  course 
towards  it  adopted  and  pursued.  After  fourteen  years,  the 
church  died  out.  Six  months  after  this  took  place,  a  full  state- 
ment was  made  to  Trinity  Church  of  the  condition  and  prospects 
of  the  church,  with  the  purpose  of  discontinuing  the  church 
after  the  1st  of  May,  should  they  continue  to  withhold  aid. 
Copy  of  above  statement  handed  in  and  filed,  marked  G.  Trin- 
ity Church  allowed  my  church  to  be  closed  for  want  of  such  aid. 
At  the  very  time  this  was  permitted.  Trinity  Church  was  aiding 


S6 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


largely  churches  up  town ;  they  gave  largely  to  St.  Luke%  that 
very  year,  which  had  already  received  $70,000.  To  the  church 
of  the  Annunciation,  a  wealthy  church  in  Fourteenth-street^ 
$25,000,  besides  large  contributions  before.  The  notice  was  given 
in  November,  1855,  to  take  effect  1st  May  following.  St.  Mat- 
thew's church  was  closed  on  1st  May;  is  now  closed  and  offered 
for  sale.    The  property  has  been  re-conveyed  to  the  donor. 

Herman  D.  Aldricky  sworni  Merchant;  resides  No.  8 East-Four- 
teenth-street;  have  lived  in  New-York  thirty-five  years.  Am 
acquainted  with  the  value  of  property  in  this  city,  below  Canal 
and  not  west  of  Greenwich-streets.  Am  acquainted  with  the 
property  marked  on  maps  2,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,10,  11,  and  12;have 
put  a  value  upon  the  property  marked  on  above  maps,  based 
upon  the  usual  terms  of  sale.  Have  a  list  of  the  property  on 
these  maps,  with  my  valuation  opposite  each  : 


...  $13,000- 

—same  value  as  year 

ago. 

,..  19,000 

do  do 

.  26,000 

do  do 

do  do 

21,000 

do  do 

. . .  10,000 

do  do 

. . .  25,000- 

—10  per  ct.  advance 

on  year  ago. 

. . .  22,000 

do  do 

do  do 

.  30,000- 

—not  much  change- 

. . .  29,000 

do  do 

29,000 

do  do 

, . .  23,000- 

—5  per  ct.  advance 

on  year  ago. 

83  do   

...  21,000 

do  do 

.  „ .  22,000- 

—10  per  ct.  advance 

on  year  ago. 

...  20.000 

do  do 

85  do   

. . .  18,000 

do  do 

do  do 

ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


87 


Ifap.  Lot. 

7  273  Greenwich-Street,    17,000- 

275         do    18,000 

277          do    14,000 

279         do    18,900 

281          do    9,000 

136  Chambers-street,    25,000- 

138         do    16,000 

140          do  ......  15,000 

142         do    16,000 

148          do    21,000 

147         do    21,000 

155          do    20,000 

157          do    20,000 

159          do    20,000 

161          do    19,000 

163          do    19,000 

8  49  Warren-street,    25,000- 

51          do    25,000 

44          do    32,000 

56          do    29,000 

112  Chambers- street,   28,000 

114          do    28,000 

89  Reade-street,    18,000- 

9  69          do    24,000 

71          do    17,000 

10  Warren-street,    40,000- 

18         do    40,000 

20         do    40,000 

30          do    38,000 

5  Murray-street,    40,000 

7         do    40,000 

9         do    40,000 

251  Broadway,  (depth  107  ft.)  120,000 

252  do    90,000 

256         do    90,000 


5  to  10  per  ct.  ad- 
vance on  year  ago. 

do  do 

do  do 

do  do 

do  do 
•stationary. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

-10  per  ct.  advance 
on  year  ago. 

do  do 

do  do 

do  do 

do  do 

do  do 

-50  pr.  ct.  advance. 

do  do 

do  do 

-5  to  10  per  ct.  ad- 
vance on  year  ago. 


do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

88 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Map. 

Lot. 

10 

156 

Keade-street, 

■50  per  ct.  advi 
on  year  ago. 

1 1 

1 1 

104. 

do     (if  25  ft.  front)  20,000 

do 

do 

X\J\J 

do 

do 

do 

do 

  19,000 

do 

do 

110 

do 

do 

do 

12 

60 

do 

do 

do 

74 

do 

  25,000 

do 

do 

The  Reade- street  property  has  increased  within  a  year  full  50 
per  cent.  Throughout  that  whole  district  a  general  advance  has 
taken  place  within  a  year. 

Adjourned  to  4th  instant,  at  10  A.  M. 

New- York,  4tth  December^  1856. 
Committee  met.    Present  all  the  members. 

Rev.  Stephen  H.  Tyng,  sworn.  Am  rector  of  St.  George's 
church;  have  been  rector  for  eleven  years  and  six  months. 

Q.  Is  the  statement  in  that  report  of  Trinity  Church  relative 
to  St.  George's  Church  correct  1  A.  To  the  best  of  my  know- 
ledge and  belief  it  is  not  correct. 

Q.  Do  you  now  speak  of  both  paragraphs  1  A.  I  did  refer  to 
both,  but  would  refer  to  particular  statements.  The  whole  con- 
sideration received  by  St.  George's  church,  in  consideration  of 
the  transfer  of  that  property,  was  |25,000.  I  do  not  know  of 
any  other  parties  to  whom  additional  moneys  were  paid.  They 
make  the  cash  transfer  on  the  property  $55,660.33  by  their  state- 
ment. To  the  best  of  my  knowledge  and  belief.  Trinity  church 
never  paid  but  $25,000  for  St.  George's  church.  I  know  nothing 
of  the  amounts  paid  for  improvement  of  the  church  of  the  Holy 
Evangelist. 

Q.  Do  you  believe  the  vestry  of  Trinity  church  has  done  its 
utmost  to  make  the  capital  of  the  property  of  that  coporation 
available  for  the  founding,  or  support,  or  promotion  of  religious, 
charitable,  or  educational  institutions,  or  purposes'?  A.  I  do 
not  believe  they  have. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRIKITY  CHURCH. 


89 


Q.  Have  they  materially  reduced  the  stipends  formerly  paid 
to  clergymen  in  this  city  1  A.  I  have  heard  no  instance  in 
which  they  have  notj  have  heard  several  instances  in  which 
they  have. 

Jasper  Grosvenor^  merchant^  affirms  :  I  do  not  know  the  value 
Trinity  church  places  upon  the  lot  corner  Broadway  and  Murray- 
streets. 

Q.  Did  you  ever  make  an  offer  for  it  under  the  lease '?  A.  I 
made  an  oflfer  of  $40,000,  subject  to  the  lease.  I  paid  them 
$10,000  for  the  stipulation  that  they  would  renew  the  lease  at 
its  expiration  on  the  usual  terms.  My  lease  expires  in  1872 — 
the  renewal  to  be  for  twenty-one  years  from  that  expiration.  The 
ground  rent  of  the  present  lease  is  $26.25  a  year.  I  hold  my 
lease  from  the  original  lessee,  but  it  has  passed  through  two  or 
three  hands  in  the  mean  time. 

John  W.  Toddy  builder  J  sworn:  Resides  155  West  Twenty-first- 
street,  New- York :  have  lived  in  New-York  thirty  two  years  ; 
my  business  has  led  me  to  become  acquainted  with  the  value  of 
property  in  all  parts  of  the  city  ;  I  have  appraised  the  property 
shown  on  maps  1  to  19,  inclusive  ;  will  complete  it  in  a  short 
time,  and  hand  it  in  to  the  chairman  of  the  committee. 

Q.  Can  you  state  what  is  the  general  character  of  the  improve- 
ments on  this  property  7  A.  Except  a  few  buildings  down  town 
they  are  generally  of  a  cheap  nature. 

Q.  What  influence  has  such  leases  upon  adjoining  property  1 
A.  To  deter  improvement. 

Q.  What  influence  upon  property  and  growth  ?  A.  To  keep 
it  back. 

John  W,  Ritchy  recalled. — Have  placed  a  value  on  all  the  pro- 
perty described  on  the  maps,  from  one  to  thirty-nine,  inclusive, 
except  such  plots  as  are  used  for  burying  grounds  and  church 
purposes,  and  such  valuation  appears  upon  the  sheets  of  paper 
herewith  delivered  to  the  committee,  numbered  one  to  thirty- 
nine,  inclusive.  Maps  and  sheets  filed,  and  marked  H.  The 
improvement  generally  upon  this  property  is  poor.    Some  por- 


90 


EEPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


tion  of  it  is  well  improved.  Many  of  them  are  of  the  worst 
character  in  their  effect  upon  their  neighborhood;  would  be 
much  better  for  city  and  property  owners  if  these  leases  were 
removed.  The  property  below  Duane-st.  is  well  improved. 
These  are  the  valuations  of  the  lots,  put  upon  them  by  Trinity 
Church,  and  by  which  they  were  relet  before  the  last  report  to 
the  Legislature  was  made,  within  three  years. 

205  Fulton-street,  annual  rent  |1,000,  on  value  $20,000. 


207  do 

do 

1,000, 

do 

20,000. 

36  Yesey-street, 

do 

1,225, 

do 

24,500. 

48  do 

do 

1,050, 

do 

21,000. 

13  Barclay-street, 

do 

1,250, 

do 

25,000. 

15  do 

do 

1,250, 

do 

25,000. 

83  Murray-street, 

do 

1,000, 

do 

20,000. 

18  Warren- street. 

do 

1,425, 

do 

28,500. 

1^44  do 

do 

1 ,250, 

do 

25,000. 

I  know  this  from  my  own  knowledge,  and  from  the  record 
office.  Valuation  placed  by  the  church  upon  the  property  occu- 
pied by  H.  R.  Railroad  depot,  corner  Chambers  and  Chapel-sts., 
was  $100,000,  about  a  year  ago. 

Sullivan  H,  Weston^  sworn, — Have  been  minister  in  the  church 
for  eight  years. 

Q.  Do  you  think  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  has  done  its 
utmost  to  make  the  capital  of  the  property  of  that  corporation 
available  for  the  founding,  or  support,  or  promotion  of  religious, 
charitable  or  educational  institutions  or  purposes  1 

A.  With  the  organization  they  had,  they  did  all  they  could — 
certainly  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city.  I  do  not  feel  able  to 
answer  the  question.  If  their  property  is  worth  what  it  is  rep- 
resented to  be,  I  think  they  have  not  done  all  for  the  poor  and 
the  church  they  might  have  done. 

Luther  Bradish,  sworn. — I  have  been  long  acquainted  with  the 
vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  and  the  management  of  its  trust,  and 
was  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  congregation  and  a  pew- 
holder  in  the  church. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


91 


Q.  Do  you  think  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  has  done  its  ut- 
most to  make  the  capital  of  the  property  of  that  corporation 
available  for  the  founding,  or  support,  or  promotion  of  religious, 
charitable  or  educational  institutions  or  purposes  1 

A.  I  do  not.  It  is  a  subject  of  serious  complaint  by  churchmen 
throughout  the  city. 

Q.  What  has  been  the  operation  of  the  law  of  1814  on  the 
church  directly  1 

A.  The  direct  effect  was  to  exclude  a  very  large  portion  of  the 
original  corporators. 

Q.  Have  you  examined  the  law  of  1814,  and  do  you  think  it  in 
accordance  with  the  terms  of  the  original  grants  of  said  pro- 
perty ? 

A.  I  have  examined  it,  and  consider  it  a  flagrant  violation  of 
the  original  grants.  I  suppose  it  is  susceptible  of  being  ascer- 
tained who  were  entitled  to  vote  previous  to  the  law  of  1814.  All 
communicants  of  the  church  under  the  original  charter,  were 
entitled  as  corporators,  to  vote.  The  reports  to  the  convention 
would  prove  who  were  entitled  to  be  heard  in  1814. 

A.  In  what  other  respect,  if  any,  does  the  act  of  1 814  differ  from 
the  originel  grants  1  Trinity  Church  claims  under  the  act  of 
1814,  the  absolute  right  of  property  belonging  to  this  trust,  and 
has  exercised  such  right.  I  know  that  Mr.  Troup,  in  behalf  of 
Trinity  Church,  urged  it  as  a  reason  for  the  act  of  1814,  in  a 
pamphlet  over  his  name,  that  it  would  enable  Trinity  Church 
to  make  these  endowments.  I  do  not  know  that  Trinity  Church 
has  availed  itself  of  this  portion  of  the  act. 

Q.  In  what  respect  has  the  vestry  failed  to  do  what  was  asked 
in  the  first  question '?  A.  In  failing  to  aid  feeble  churches  and 
to  establish  others  where  required  in  this  city.  The  want  of  free 
churches  throughout  the  city  is  severely  felt. 

Q.  Did  Episcopalians  in  the  city  petition  the  Legislature  for 
the  passage  of  the  law  in  1814 1  A.  Churchmen  throughout  the 
city  strenuously  opposed  the  passage  of  the  law. 


92  REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 

Mr.  L.  Bradish  is  requested  to  answer  the  following  inter- 
rogatories : 

1 .  From  what  source  was  the  property  now  held  by  Trinity 
Church  derived'? 

2.  To  whom  and  by  what  title  was  these  grants  made '? 

3.  For  what  purpose  1 

4.  After  the  change  of  government  at  the  Revolution,  to  whom 
and  under  what  title,  and  for  what  purposes  were  these  grants 
renewed  by  the  Legislature  of  this  State  in  1784  1 

5.  When  did  the  present  corporation  of  Trinity  Church  pro- 
cure a  change  in  the  title  and  control  of  this  property  ? 

6.  What  was  the  nature  of  the  change  1 

7.  What  its  effect  upon  the  vested  rights  of  corporators  as 
•  originally  constituted  ? 

8.  What  were  the  circumstances  under  which  it  became  a  law  ? 

9.  Has  the  present  law  been  quietly  acquiesced  in  by  the 
inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New- York,  in  communion,  &c.,"  since 
the  passage  of  said  law,  or  have  they  resisted  it  as  an  illegal 
violation  of  their  vested  rights  '? 

10.  Is  it  your  opinion  that  the  act  of  1814,  is  subversive  of 
the  rights  of  individuals,  and,  therefore,  unconstitutional  and 
unjust  ? 

11.  Did  Col.  Troup  appear  as  counsel  for  Trinity  Church  in 
the  effort  made  by  that  corporation  to  procure  the  passage  by  the 
Legislature  of  the  law  of  1814,  by  which  the  rights  of  oiiginal 
corporators  were  cut  off? 

12.  Did  he,  in  his  argument  before  the  Council  of  Revision, 
state,  and  in  what  terms,  that  if  the  law  sought  were  passed,  giving 
the  control  of  this  vast  estate  exclusively  to  the  corporation  of 
Trinity  Church,  she  would  go  forward  with  more  freedom  and 
liberality  than  she  had  hitherto  done,  in  setting  off  and  suitably 
endowing  independent  churches,  and  in  dividing  and  distributing 
the  large  landed  estate  which  she  had  hitherto  held  as  trustee 
for  the  "  Rector  and  inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New- York,  in  com- 
munion with  the  Protestant^  Episcopal  church,  in  the  State  of 
New-York." 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


93 


13.  Have  you  examined  the  history  of  the  grants  of  land  by 
the  vestry  of  Trinity  church,  as  compiled  and  published  by  its 
rector,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Berrian'? 

"Will  you  state  the  dates,  purposes,  grantees  and  value  of  said 
grants  of  land,  as  given  in  said  history,  previous  to  the  passage 
of  the  law  of  1814'? 

Also,  the  like  facts  as  to  the  grants  of  land  by  said  vestry, 
since  the  passage  of  the  law  of  1814,  so  as  to  demonstrate  the 
comparative  results  of  the  law  in  question,  upon  the  interests  of 
religion  and  learning? 

1st  Answer.  The  property  now  held  by  Trinity  church  has 
been  derived  mainly  from  two  royal  grants,  the  first  in  1697, 
under  William  III.,  king  of  England,  consisting  of  the  parish 
church  and  a  part  of  the  land  known  as  "  the  queen's  garden," . 
which,  together  with  two  lots  of  land  derived  from  other  sources, 
forms  the  present  church- yard,  or  burying  ground  of  the  church. 
The  second  in  1705,  under  Anne,  queen  of  England,  consisting 
of  the  tract  of  land  known  as  "  the  duke's  or  king's  farm,"  then 
"  the  queen's  farm."  Trinity  church  holds  some  other  smaller 
pieces  of  real  estate  derived  from  other  sources. 

2d  Answer.  The  first  of  the  grants  above  specified,  in  my 
answer  to  the  first  interrogatory,  was  expressly  "  declared  to  be 
forever  separated  and  dedicated  to  the  service  of  God,  and  to  be 
applied  to  the  use  and  behalf  of  the  inhabitants,  from  time  to 
time,  inhabiting  and  to  inhabit  within  our  said  city  of  New- York, 
in  communion  of  our  said  protestant  church  of  England,  as  now 
established  by  our  laws,  and  to  no  other  use  or  purpose  whatso- 
ever, any  statute  law,  custom,  or  usage  to  the  contrary,  in  any 
ways  notwithstanding." 

The  second  of  the  grants  above  specified,  and  by  far  the  most 
important,  was  made  to  the  corporation,  by  its  corporate  name, 
previously  created^  and  known  as  The  Rector  and  Inhabitants 
of  the  city  of  New- York,  in  communion  of  the  church  of 
England,  as  by  law  established,  and  their  successors."  This 
corporation  was  created  by  charter  under  William  III.,  of  Eng- 
land in  1697,  in  the  words  following,  viz.: 


94 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


"  And  we  have  further  thought  fit,  and,  at  the  humble  request 
of  our  loving  subjects,  are  graciously  pleased  to  create  and  make 
him,  our  said  Right  truly,  and  well  beloved,  and  Right  Reverend 
Father  in  God,  Henry  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  and  his  Successors, 
Rectors  of  said  Parish,  together  with  all  the  Inhabitants,  from 
time  to  time,  inhabiting,  and  to  inhabit  in  our  said  City  of  New- 
York,  and  in  communion  of  our  said  Protestant  Church  of  Eng- 
land, as  now  established  by  our  Laws,  as  Body  corporate  and 
Politic  in  fact  and  name,  by  the  name  of  "T/^e 

Rector  and  Inhabitants  of  our  said  City  of  JVew-York,  in  commu- 
nion of  our  Protestant  Church  of  Engla7id,  as  now  established  by  our 
Laws.^^ 

The  essential  powers  of  this  corporation  were  re  granted  by  an 
act  of  the  Colonial  Legislature  in  1704,  to  "The  Rector  and  In- 
habitants of  the  City  of  New- York  in  communion  of  the  Church 
of  England,  as  by  law  established,  and  their  Successors." 

The  corporation  thus  created  by  the  charter  of  William  III., 
in  1597,  and  the  act  of  the  ColoniaF  Legislature,  in  1704,  is  re- 
cognised in  the  grant  of  Ann,  in  1705,  and  the  grant  made  to 
that  corporation,  by  its  corporate  name. 

All  the  inhabitants,  from  time  to  time  inhabiting,  and  to  in- 
habit in  the  city  of  New- York,  and  in  communion  of  the  Protes- 
tant Church  of  England  as  established  by  law,  were  corporators 
of  the  corporation  created  by  the  aforesaid  charter  of  1597,  and 
the  act  of  the  Colonial  Legislature  of  1704,  and  were,  therefore, 
beneficiaries  under  the  grants  of  William  III.,  in  1697,  and  of 
Ann,  in  1705. 

3d  answer.  From  the  terms  of  the  charter  of  William  III ,  in 
1697,  of  the  act  of  the  Colonial  Legislature  of  1704,  and  of  the 
grant  of  Ann  in  1705,  it  is  evident  that  the  purpose  and  object 
of  these  grants  were  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  the 
principles  and  services  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
throughout  the  city  of  New- York. 

4th  answer.  By  the  legislative  act  of  1784,  the  corporation, 
created  by  the  royal  charter  of  1697,  and  act  of  the  Colonial 
Legislature  in  1704,  was  saved  from  forfeiture,  by  reason  of  any 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


95 


non-user  or  misuser  between  the  19th  of  April  1775,  and  the 
date  of  the  said  act  of  1784;  it  being  expressly  enacted  in  the 
said  law,  "that  nothing  in  this  law,  nor  no  non-user  or  misuser 
between  the  19th  day  of  April  1775,  and  the  passing  of  this  law, 
shall  be  in  any  wise  construed  to  annul,  injure,  repeal  or  make 
void  the  said  charter,  or  the  said  law  first  above  particularly 
mentioned,  where  the  same  are  not  inconsistent  with  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  State." 

In  its  manifest  object  of  adapting  the  corporation  to  the  new 
state  of  things  produced  by  the  Revolution,  the  consequent  inde- 
pendence of  the  State,  and  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  this 
State,  the  Legislative  act  of  1784  did  not  change  the  title  of  the 
corporation,  or  the  rights  of  the  parties  interested,  but  expressly 
declared  "that  nothing  in  this  act  contained  shall  be  construed, 
deemed  or  taken,  to  prejudice  or  injure  the  right  or  title  of  any 
person  or  persons  whatsoever,  to  any  lands  or  tenements  occu- 
pied or  claimed  by  the  corporation  aforesaid." 

5th  Answer.    In  and  by  the  act  of  January  25th,  1814. 

6th  Answer.  The  act  of  1814  authorized  the  corporation 
previously  created,  instead  of  its  then  corporate  name  of  "The 
rector  and  inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New- York,  in  communion 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  in  the  State  of  New- York," 
*'to  take  and  use  the  name  of  ^The  Rector^  Church-wardens ,  and 
Vestrymen  of  Trinity  Church ,  in  the  city  of  JVei^j- ForA:.' "  This 
virtually  created  a  new  corporation,  with  new  corporators,  and 
new  qualifications  for  the  exercise  of  the  right  of  voting  for 
those  who,  as  agents  and  trustees,  were  to  manage  and  apply  the 
large  estates,  in  which,  by  the  original  grants,  all  the  inhabitants 
of  New- York,  in  communion  of  the  Protestanc  Episcopal  church 
in  the  State  of  New- York,  were  legally  interested. 

7th  Answer.  By  the  Royal  Charter  of  1697,  and  the  act  of  the 
colonial  Legislature  of  1704,  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  of 
New-York,  in  communion  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church, 
were  made  corporators  of  the  corporation  thereby  created,  and, 
as  such,  had  the  right  to  vote  for  the  church- wardens  and  the 
vestrymen,  who,  with  the  rector,  not  only  formed  the  vestry  of 


96 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


the  parish  church,  but  were  the  agents  and  trustees  for  the  man- 
agement and  application  of  the  common  property. 

By  the  act  of  1814,  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New- 
York,  in  communion  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  were 
excluded  from  the  corporation  thereby  created  or  newly  mod- 
elled, and  deprived  of  the  right  of  voting  at  the  annual  elections 
for  churchwardens  and  vestrymen  of  the  said  corporation,  ex- 
cept male  persons  of  full  age,  who,  for  the  space  of  one  year 
preceding  any  election,  shall  have  been  members  of  the  congre- 
gation of  Trinity  church,  or  of  any  of  the  chapels  belonging  to 
the  same,  and  forming  part  of  the  same  religious  corporation, 
and  who  shall  hold,  occupy,  or  enjoy  a  pew  or  seat  in  Trinity 
church,  or  any  of  the  said  chapels,  or  have  partaken  of  the  holy 
communion  therein  within  the  said  year." 

The  act  of  1814,  also  seriously  affected  the  rights  of  property 
of  those  thus  excluded,  and  who,  by  the  royal  charter  of  1697, 
and  the  act  of  the  colonial  Legislature  of  1704,  were  constituted 
corporators  of  the  corporation  thereby  created,  and  beneficiaries 
under  the  valuable  grants  made  therein,  and  in  the  royal  grant 
of  Ann,  in  1705.  For  although  in  the  act  of  1814,  it  is  provided 
"  That  nothing  in  this  act  contained  shall  be  construed  to  affect 
or  defeat  the  right  of  any  person  or  persons,  or  of  any  body  cor- 
porate to  the  estate,  real  or  personal,  now  held,  occupied  or  en- 
joyed by  the  corporation  of  Trinity  church yet  that  act  having 
already  deprived  the  great  body  of  Episcopalians  of  the  right  o^ 
being  corporators,  and  voting  for  the  agents  and  trustees  of  the 
common  property,  the  saving  of  the  mere  abstract  right  of  pro- 
perty is  worth  very  little.  The  right  of  voting  for  the  agents 
and  trustees,  who  are  to  manage  and  apply  the  corporate  or 
common  property,  is  an  essential  incident  of  the  right  of  pro- 
perty itself;  is  indispensable  to  the  protection  of  such  right, 
and  necessary  to  give  it  full  effect.  The  mere  bald,  naked, 
abstract  right  of  property,  without  the  right  of  electing  the 
agents  and  trustees,  who  are  to  manage  and  apply  such  property, 
is  practically  of  little  value.  The  act  of  1814,  therefore,  in  ex- 
cluding the  great  body  of  Episcopalians  of  the  city  of  New-York 
rom  the  new  corporation  thereby  created  or  materially  changed ; 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


97 


and  in  depriving  them  of  the  right  of  voting  for  the  agents  or 
trustees  of  tlie  corporate  or  common  property,  not  only  deprived 
them  of  valuable  franchises  previously  granted  to,  and  enjoyed 
by  them,  but  virtually  divested  them  of  their  right  of  property; 
or  rendered  that  right  of  little  practical  value.  As  a  conse- 
quence, the  valuable  grants  originally  made  for  the  use  and 
benefit  of  the  inhabitants,  from  time  to  time  inhabiting,  or  to 
inhabit  in  the  city  of  New- York,  in  communion  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  and  to  the  rector  and  inhabitants  of  the  city 
of  New- York,  in  communion  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 
since  the  passage  of  the  act  of  1814,  seem  to  have  been  viewed 
and  administered  as  the  individual  and  exclusive  property  of  the 
corporation  newly  created,  or  materially  remoddled  by  that  act; 
and  the  grants,  which  have  since  been  made  out  of  this  property 
by  the  new  corporation,  have  been  presented  as  gratuities  of 
that  corporation,  and  not  as  appropriations  of  the  proceeds  of  a 
trust  fund,  to  which  the  parties  receiving  such  grants  were 
justly  and  of  right  entitledo  These  grants  have  been  claimed 
as  acts  of  liberality,  and  not  as  the  faithful  execution  ol  a  great 
trustj  created  and  endowed  for  expansive  benevolence,  not  for 
exclusive  or  restricted  emolument. 

8th  Answer.  From  the  Journals  of  the  Legislature  and  the 
Council  of  Revision,  which  I  have  examined,  it  appears  that  the 
petition  of  Trinity  Church  for  the  act  of  1814,  was  presented  in 
the  Senate  of  the  State  on  the  17th  of  March,  1813,  a  bill  brought 
in,  which  was  passed  by  that  body  on  the  25th  of  March,  1813, 
and  by  the  Assembly  on  the  2d  of  April,  1813.  On  the  5th  of 
April,  1813,  the  bill  was  received  by  the  Council  of  Revision,  and 
referred  to  the  chancellor,  who  reported  objections  to  the  bill. 
These  objections  were  considered  by  the  council  on  the  25th  of 
January,  1814,  when  the  vote  thereon  was  equally  divided.  No 
order  therefore  was  made  thereon,  and  the  bill  became  a  law  by 
lapse  of  time,  without  ever  having  received  the  express  sanction 
of  the  executive  department  of  the  government. 

9th  Answer.  The  act  of  1814  has  not  been  quietly  acquiesced 
in  by  the  great  body  of  Episcopalians  in  the  city  of  New-York : 
on  the  contrary,  from  its  passage  to  the  present  time,  it  has  been 

7 


98 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


a  continued  subject  of  dissatisfaction,  and  occasional  efforts  for 
its  material  modification  or  repeal. 

10th  Ansv/er.  It  is  ray  deliberate  opinion^  after  careful  ex- 
amination, that  the  act  of  1814  does  attempt  to  deprive  the  great 
body  of  Episcopalians  in  the  city  of  New-York  of  important 
franchises,  and  to  divest  them  of  their  rights  in  valuable  estates, 
granted  and  confirmed  to  them  by  legal  and  valid  acts;  and 
therefore  that  the  said  act  of  1814  is  unconstitutional,  unequal, 
and  unjust.  Nor  has  the  said  act,  in  my  opinion,  as  was  prom- 
ised at  the  time  of  its  passage,  advanced,  nor  is  it  calculated  to 
advance,  the  great  objects  of  Christian  benevolence,  for  which 
the  original  corporation  was  created,  and  so  liberally  endowed. 

11th  Answer.  In  a  pamphlet  over  the  name  of  "  Robert 
Troup,"  dated  Gth  of  September,  1813,  and  while  the  bill  in 
question  was  before  the  Council  of  Revision,  or  its  committee, 
there  is  the  following  :  viz.,  "  with  his  zealous  exertions  to  pro- 
cure the  passage  of  the  bill  through  the  two  houses  of  the  Legis- 
lature, and  with  this  very  humble  attempt  to  recommend  it  to 
the  approbation  of  the  council."  From  this  declaration  of 
Colonel  Troup,  I  conclude  that  he  did  appear  as  counsel  or 
agent  for  Trinity  church  in  the  effort  to  procure  the  passage  of 
the  act  of  1814. 

12th  Answer.  In  the  pamphlet  of  Colonel  Troup,  above  re- 
ferred to,  in  my  answer  to  the  11th  interrogatory,  and  which 
pamphlet  appears  to  have  been  written  in  support  of  the  bill  in 
question,  while  it  w^as  pending  before  the  Council  of  Revision, 
and  with  a  view  to  induce  its  passage  into  a  law,  there  are, 
among  others,  the  following  remarkable  and  very  significant 
paragraphs,  viz  ,  "judging  from  the  past,  it  is  morally  certain 
that  the  future  increase  of  the  population  of  the  city  will  strongly 
recommend  to  the  corporation  of  Trinity  Church  the  policy  of 
dividing  its  corporators,  and  setting  them  off  in  separate 
churches,  with  suitable  endowments;  and  to  enable  the  vestry 
to  do  this  in  a  mode  free  from  all  legal  doubts,  and  with  the 
assent  of  a  majority  of  the  corporators  to  be  set  off,  is  a  fifth 
object  of  the  bill." 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINIT7  CHURCH. 


99 


Again  :  "The  bill,  when  passed  into  a  law,  would  have  the 
liappy  consequence  of  enabling  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church, 
from  time  to  time,  as  society  shall  advance,  to  separate  churches 
with  the  consent  of  their  congregations,  and  to  endow  them  with 
competent  estates.  No  power  can  be  more  congenial  than  this 
to  the  spirit  of  our  republican  systems.  The  frequent  exercise 
of  the  power  likewise,  by  breaking  down  the  estate  of  Trinity 
Church,  would  allay  the  fears  of  those  honest  republicans,  who 
look  upon  large  estates  as  nurseries  of  sentiments  hostile  to 
liberty;  and  it  would  calm  the  minds  of  those  enthusiastic  de- 
votees who  believe  that  religious  societies,  when  possessing 
wealth,  seldom  employ  enough  of  it  in  the  heavenly  work  of 
propagating  the  gospel." 

The  action  of  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  previous  and  sub- 
sequent to  the  passage  of  the  act  of  1814,  gives  peculiar  signifi- 
cance to  these  paragraphs  of  the  pamphlet  of  Col  Troup. 

13th  Answer.  I  have  examined  the  history  of  the  grants  of 
land  made  by  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  as  presented  in  "an 
Historical  Sketch  of  Trinity  Church,  New- York,  by  the  Rev. 
William  Berrian,  D.  D.,  the  rector  of  the  same,"  in  a  pamphlet 
entitled  "Facts  against  Fancy,  or  a  True  and  Just  View  of  Trin- 
ity Church,"  supposed  to  be  by  the  Rev.  Rector  of  Trinity  Church; 
and  in  a  conmunication  of  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  to  the 
Senate  of  the  State,  in  reply  to  resolutions  of  the  same,  passed 
April  13,  1855,  transmitted  to  the  Legislature  Feb.  20,  1856. 

From  these  documents  it  appears  that  previous  to  the  passage 
ot  the  act  of  1814,  grants  of  land  were  made,  and  are  valued  as 
follows,  viz  : 

Date.   No.  of  Lot.  Description  of  Property.  Value. 

1748  Site  of  Trinity  school,  number  of  lots 

and  value  not  given.    (F.  16.) 

1752  All  these  lands  between  Murray  and 

Barclay-streets,  and  from  Church- 
street  to  the  river,  being  an  endow- 
ment of  Columbia  College,  (F.  15.)  $500,000  00 

1765  2  For  a  ferry  from  Paulus  Hook  (H.  367.) 
Value  not  given. 


100 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Date.    No.  of  lot.  Description  of  property.  Valu*. 

1775  2  In  Vesey-street,  for  a  pier  and  slip. 
Value  not  given.    (  H.  368.) 

1785  3  For  the  use  of  the  senior  pastors  of 
the  Presbyterian  congregations  of 
New-York,  (H.  367,)  $50,000  00 

1798  28  To  St.  Mark's  church,  in  the  Bowery, 
viz:  5  in  Warren-st.,  1  in  Church- 
street  12  in  Reade- street,  3  in  Har- 
rison-street, 2  in  Greenwich-street, 
5  in  Provoost-street ;  value  in  1847, 
$131,500.    (F.  19,)   131,500  00 

1800  7  To  Trinity  school  on  Lumber,  Rector, 
and  Greenwich-sts.;  value  in  1847, 
$35,000,  now  (F.  16,)   50,000  00 

1802  32  To  the  society  for  promoting  religion 
and  learning  in  the  diocese  of  New - 
York,  situated  on  Barclay,  Warren, 
Greenwich,  Hudson,  Beach  &  North 
Moore-streets — value  in  1847,  $120, 
000,  now  much  more,  (F.  17.) 

1805  4  To  Christ  church,  New-York,  on  Bar- 
clay-street— value  in  1847,  $24,000, 
now  (F.  27,)   48,000  00 

1807  2  To  St.  Stephen's  church,  New-York, 
on  Warren-st;  value  in  1847,  $13, 
000,  now  (F.  25,)   26,000  00 

1809       4    To  St.  James'  church,  Newtown,  viz : 

1  on  Reade-st.,  1  on  Greenwich-st., 

2  onLumber-st;  value  in  1847, $20,- 
000,  now  much  more,  (F.  24.) 

1809       5    To  St.  Peters',  Westchester,  on  Reade 
Chambers  and  Warren-streets ;  value 

in  1847,  $22,500,  now  (F.  23,)   45,000  00 

1809  5  To  St.  George's,  Flushing,  viz  :  3  on 
Warren-st.,  2  on  Chamber-st.;  value 
in  1847,  $19,500,  now  greatly  in- 
creased, (F.  23.) 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


101 


Date.   No.  of  lots.  Description  of  property.  Value. 

1809  4  To  Grace  church,  Jamaica,  viz:  3  on 
Lumber-st.,1  on  Reade-st.;  Value  in 
1847,$18,500,now  much  more.(F.23) 

1809  2  To  St.  Ann's,  Brooklyn,  on  Chambers 
St.;  value  in  1847,  $13,000,  now 
(F.  24,)   $26,000  00 

1809  6  To  St.  Michael  and  James',  N.  York, 
on  Chambers,  Vesey  &  Warren-sts., 
value  in  1847,  $39,000,  now  (F.  26)      78,000  00 

1809  4    To  Trinity  church,  Utica,  viz :  3  on 

Reade-street,  1  on  Clark-street; 
value  $12,000,  since  materially  in- 
creased, (F.  27.) 

1810  2    For  a  free  school  in  Hudson-street, 

lots  and  value  not  specified,  (F.  13.) 

1810  Land  in  Duane-st,  for  a  market  in 

Brannon-street,  value  not  specified, 
(H.  368.) 

1811  25    To  Grace-church,  New- York,  viz : 

7  on  Rector-street,  2  on  Vesey-st., 
3  on  Barclay-street,  2  on  Warren- 
street,  5  on  Chambers-street,  2  on 
Church-street,  4  on  Reade-street; 

value  in  1847,  $120,000,  now   240,000  00 

(F.  20.) 

1812  Land,  supposed  to  be  four  lots,  for  a 

market  on  Christopher-street,  be- 
tween Greenwich  and  Washington- 
streets;  value  not  given.  (H.231-2) 
1812-13  33  To  St.  George's,  N.  Y.,  viz:  8  on 
Reade-street,  4  on  Greenwich-street, 
6  on  Murray-street,  9  on  Chambers- 
street,  4  on  Warren-st.,  1  on  Bar- 
clay-street, 1  on  Beekman-street; 

value  in  1847,  $170,000;  now,   340,000  00 

H.  249,250— F.21.) 


102 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Date.   No.  of  lots.  Description  of  propertyr  Valtsje. 

1813  4  To  St.  James's,  New-York,  on  Cham- 
bers, and  Barclay-streets;  value  in 
1847,  $26,000;  now,  (F.  26,)   $52,000  00 

Grants  of  Land  made  subsequent  to  the 
passage  oj  the  act  0/1814. 

181 5  Further  grant  of  lots  to  the  Free  School 

Society,  number  of  lots  not  given, 
supposed  to  be  five;  value  not 
given.    (F.  13.) 

1820        3    To  St.  Luke's  Church,  N.  Y. 

1827        2  do  do 

1834  3  do  do 

Value  in  1847,  $30^000;  since  ma- 
terially increased.  (F.  29.) 
1832  5  To  Trinity  School,  N.  Y.,  on  Canal 
Varick,and  Grand-streets,  leased  at 
a  nominal  rent  for  63  years;  esti- 
mated equal  to  a  capital  of  $20,0U0. 
(F.  17.) 

1835  1    To  Ascension   Church,  N.  Y.,  on 

Vesey-street;  value  in  1847,$6,500; 

now,  (F.  31,)   13,000  00 

The  number  of  lots  in  the  foregoing  statement  includes  only 
those  grants  of  which  the  number  of  lots  is  given.  It  omits, 
therefore,  the  site  for  Trinity  Church;  the  whole  endowment  of 
Columbia  college,  so  far  as  the  number  of  lots  is  concerned ^ 
land  in  Duane-street,  granted  for  a  market  in  Brannon-street ; 
and  land  on  Christopher-street,  for  a  market  on  that  street. 

From  the  communication"  of  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church 
to  the  Senate,  made  in  February,  1856,  it  appears  that  the  whole 
number  of  lots  given  to  churches  down  to  the  15tli  of  February, 
1855,  was  146.  Of  these,  137  were  given  previous,  and  9  sub- 
sequent to  the  passage  of  the  act  of  1814. 

It  also  appears  that  down  to  1855  the  whole  number  of  lots 
given  for  the  advancement  of  the  church  and  of  religion,  for 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH 


103 


general  and  public  purposes,  and  to  institutions  of  learning  and 
charity  schools,  and  leased  for  63  years  free  of  rent,  was  172,  of 
which  162  were  given  previous  and  10  subsequent  to  the  pas- 
sage of  the  act  of  1814.  It  then  appears  that  down  to  February, 
1855,  the  whole  number  of  lots  given  by  the  Vestry  of  Trinity 
Church,  for  all  purposes,  was  318;  of  which  299  were  given 
previous,  and  only  19  subsequent  to  the  passage  of  the  act  of 
1814.  Of  the  299  lots  which  were  given  p'^evious  to  the  pas- 
sage of  the  act  of  1814, 167  were  given  within  15  years,  94  within 
5  years,  and  62  within  3  years,  before  the  passage  of  that  act. 

It  also  appears  that  within  fifteen  years  before  the  passage  of 
the  act  of  1814,  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church  built,  set  off,  and 
endowed  with  landed  estates,  three  churches;  since  the  pas- 
sage of  that  act,  not  one. 

It  also  appears  that  since  the  passage  of  the  act  of  1814,  the 
number  of  Episcopal  parishes  in  the  city  of  New-York  has 
increased  from  nine  to  nearly  fifty;  but  that  not  one  ol  all  this 
increase  has  been  built,  set  off,  and  endowed  with  landed  estates 
by  Trinity  corporation. 

As  an  inducement  to  the  passage  of  the  act  of  1814,  U  was 
urged  as  "  morally  certain  "  that  the  future  increase  of  the  pop- 
ulation of  the  city  would  strongly  recommend  to  the  corporation 
of  Trinity  church  the  policy  of  dividing  its  corporators,  and 
setting  them  off  in  separate  churches,  with  suitable  endowments; 
and  to  enable  the  vestry  to  do  this,  in  a  mode  free  from  all  legal 
doubts,  was  an  object  of  the  bill.  The  bill  was  drawn  up  and 
passed  accordingly;  but  since  its  passage,  the  corporators  have 
never  b  en  divided,  set  off,  and  suitably  endowed. 

As  a  further  inducement  to  the  passage  of  the  act  of  1814,  it 
was  represented  that  the  bill,  when  passed  into  law,  would 
have  the  happy  consequence  of  enabling  the  vestry  of  Trinity 
Church,  from  time  to  time,  as  society  should  advance,  to  sepa- 
rate the  churches,  with  the  consent  of  their  congregations,  and 
to  endow  them  with  competent  estates  :  "  That  no  power  could 
be  more  congenial  than  this  to  the  spirit  of  our  republican  sys- 
tem      That  "  the  frequent  (execution)  exercise  of  the  power 


104 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


likewise,  by  breaking  down  the  estate  of  Trinity  church,  would 
allay  the  fears  of  those  honest  republicans,  who  look  upon  large 
estates  as  nurseries  of  sentiments  hostile  to  liberty;  and  would 
calm  the  minds  of  those  enthusiastic  devotees,  who  believe  that 
religious  societies,  when  possessing  wealth,  seldom  employ 
enough  of  it  in  the  heavenly  work  of  propagating  the  goj-pel." 

Since  the  passage  of  the  act  of  1814,  "the  happy  consequence" 
thus  promised,  has  not  been  realized  ;  the  churches  have  not 
been  separated  and  endowed  with  competent  estates;  the  power, 
so  congenial  with  our  republican  systems,  sought  and  granted, 
has  not  been  exercised;  the  large  and  increasing  estate  of  this 
powerful  corporation  has  not  been  broken  down,  nor  the  fears 
of  honest  republicans  allayed,  or  the  minds  of  enthusiastic  devo- 
tees been  calmed. 

On  the  contrary,  since  the  passage  of  the  act  of  1814,  every 
other  consideration  and  interest  seem  to  have  been  made  to  yield 
to  the  new-born  policy  of  accumulation,  and  paramount  object 
of  keeping  that  large  and  increasing  estate  together  in  one  mass. 
The  wise  and  salutary  policy  of  landed  endowments,  which, 
previous  to  the  passage  of  the  act  of  1814,  had  given  away  299 
lots,  has,  since  the  passage  of  that  act,  with  its  novel  powers, 
and  increased  facilities,  been  so  far  paralyzed  as  to  grant  only 
19  lots  in  all;  and  for  more  than  twenty  years  last  past,  seems 
to  have  been  abandoned.  Since  1835  it  does  not  appear  that  a 
single  foot  of  this  large  and  increasing  landed  estate  has  been 
given  for  any  purpose  whatever,  unless  it  be  some  fine  burial 
plots  in  Trinity  cemetery,  given  to  charitable  societies. 

Instead  of  grants  of  land,  the  corporation  seems  to  have  con- 
fined itself  of  late,  wholly  to  the  practice  of  making  pecuniary 
grants,  either  in  the  form  of  loans  on  mortgage,  or  in  most  cases, 
in  small  annuities,  or  annual  stipends,  dependent  wholly  upon 
the  will  of  the  donor. 

The  effect  of  this  would  naturally  be,  as  it  is  believed  to  have 
been,  to  interfere  with  the  independence  of  both  clergy  and 
parishes.  It  is  believed  too,  that  this  habitual  leaning,  for 
annual  support,  upon  this  wealthy  corporation,  has  had  the 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH< 


105 


natural  effect  of  weakening,  rather  than  strengthening  feeble 
parishes. 

The  parishes  which  have  received  endowments  in  land,  are, 
almost  without  exception  prosperous  and  strong.  They  are  now, 
not  only  independent  of  further  aid,  but  are  able  and  willing  to 
aid  others.  Whereas  a  large  proportion  of  those,  which  have 
only  been  aided  by  annual  stipends  in  money,  have  naturally, 
and  almost  necessarily  spent  the  money  as  fast  as  received, 
without  acquiring  any  permanent  strength,  or  any  feeling  of  self- 
reliance;  and  consequently  are  now  no  more  able  to  sustain 
themselves  by  their  own  inheritent  and  acquired  strength,  than 
they  were  many  years  ago. 

A  return  to  the  policy  and  practice  of  endowments  in  landed 
estate,  as  contemplated  in  the  act  of  1814,  and  was  promised  as 
an  inducement  to  the  passage  of  that  act,  can  alone  give  a  real 
and  healthy  development  of  church  growth  and  parochial  inde- 
pendence. This  together  with  a  more  active  and  diffusive 
appropriation  of  this  large  and  increasing  trust  estate,  substitut- 
ing, for  the  policy  of  accumulation,  and  a  too  restricted,  if  not 
exclusive  use,  a  more  equal  and  just  participation,  can  alone 
lully  accomplish  the  great  object  of  this  trust  estate,  and  faith- 
fully carry  out  the  benevolent  purposes  of  its  donors;  while  a 
perseverance  in  the  present  policy,  and  a  continuance  of  the  sti- 
pendiary system,  can  only  extend  the  list  of  pensioners  on  this 
fund,  impair  the  wholesome  spirit  of  self-reliance,  promote  pa- 
rochial debility,  and  personal  dependence,  and  thus  defeat  a 
great  object  of  active  and  diffusive  christian  benevolence. 

I  cannot  but  think,  therefore,  that  the  passage  of  the  act  of 
1814,  and  the  new  system,  which  if  not  induced  by,  has  been 
pursued  under  it,  have  not  promoted,  in  the  best  manner  and 
highest  practicable  degree,  the  interest  of  religion  and  learning, 
but  have  been  essentially  injurious  to  both. 

The  foregoing  answers  are  mainly  given  from  knowledge 
derived  from  a  careful  examination  of  the  documents,  or  copies 
thereof,  referred  to  therein;  and  I  believe  them  to  be  just  and 
true.  L.  BRADISH. 

Mew-York,  Dec.  24,  1856. 


106 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Samuel  T.  Skidmore  appeared: 

Q.  Are  you  a  vestryman  of  Trinity  church,  and  member  of  the 
standing  committee?  A.  Yes;  I  decline  to  be  sworn,  for  the 
reason  that  in  view  of  the  communications  passing  between  the 
committee  and  comptroller,  it  seems  to  me  improper. 

Thomas  H.  Taylor^  sworn;  Am  rector  of  Grace  church;  have 
been  so  for  nearly  twenty-three  years. 

Q.  Do  you  think  the  vestry  of  Trinity  church  has  done  its  ut- 
most to  make  the  capital  of  the  property  of  that  corporation 
available  for  the  founding,  or  support,  or  promotion  of  religious 
charitable,  or  educational  institutions  or  purposes?  A.  From 
my  outward  observation  of  their  acts,  I  should  say  not. 

Q.  In  what  respect?  A.  Because  they  have  not  multiplied 
churches  throughout  the  city  to  any  extent,  in  proportion  to 
their  means.  The  aid  which  they  have  extended  to  feeble 
churches  has  been  done  reluctantly  and  offensively,  either  by 
taking  mortgages  on  the  churches  to  which  they  advanced  money, 
or  by  annual  payments  to  the  support  of  the  minister;  in  either 
way  increasing  their  power  over  the  corporations  and  minister 
of  the  church  to  an  extent  w^hich  was  fatal  to  all  independence 
of  thought  or  action  on  the  part  of  such  corporations  or  ministers. 
The  tendency  of  this  action  is  to  enable  her  to  exercise  an  over- 
whelming influence  throughout  the  diocese.  Grace  church, 
with  about  five  hundred  communicants,  has  no  representation  in 
this  corporation,  by  the  act  of  1814;  that  act,  together  with  the 
subsequent  action  of  the  vestry,  has  had  the  effect  to  cut  all  off, 
the  same  effect  applies  to  all  the  churches  in  the  city.  In  illus- 
tration of  my  opinion,  I  would  state  that  a  very  worthy  minister 
of  a  parish  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city,  whose  church  was  embar- 
rassed by  a  debt  of  some  four  thousands  of  dollars  was  told  by 
his  warden  that  he  had  applied  to  the  controller  of  Trinity  church 
for  aid  in  their  pecuniary  embarrassment.  The  reply  he  received 
was,  we  can  give  you  no  help,  fur  your  minister  voted  against 
us  at  the  last  convention."  The  reply  of  the  warden  amounted 
to  this,  "  our  minister  voted  against  the  restoration  of  Bishop 
Onderdonk,  but  in  doing  so,  we  do  not  perceive  how  he  voted 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


107 


against  Trinity  Church."  The  controller  replied,  "to  vote 
against  measures  approved  by  Trinity  church  is  to  vote  against 
her,  and  we  are  resolved,  for  the  future,  to  take  care  of  our 
friends."  The  warden  remarked,  *4f  the  course  of  our  minister 
is  to  ruin  me  and  his  church,  I  will  go  his  security  that  he  will 
not  offend  in  that  way  again."  The  minister,  who  came  to  me 
with  this  statement,  then  said,  ''of  course,  nothing  is  left  to  me 
but  to  pay  this  debt,  or  to  leave  the  church.  As  I  cannot  do  the 
one  I  must  seek  for  the  bread  for  my  children  somewhere  else, 
for  the  warden  is  my  personal  friend,  and  he  is  personally  liable 
for  the  debt."  He  resigned  his  parish,  and  left  the  State.  This 
is  but  one  of  the  many  instances  of  the  sort  that  has  come  to  my 
knowledge. 

John  D,  Wolfe  J  sworn. — Am  merchant  in  the  city  of  New- York. 
Was  formerly  a  vestryman  of  Trinity  Church  for  about  ten 
years.  I  was  omitted  at  an  election  some  eight  or  ten  years 
since. 

Q.  Do  you  think  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  has  done  its 
utmost  to  make  the  capital  of  tlie  property  of  that  corporation 
available  for  the  founding,  or  support,  or  promotion  of  religious, 
charitable,  or  educational  institutions  or  purposes  1  A.  They 
did  not  much  in  the  way  of  charity;  for  that  general  object  I  do 
not  think  they  did.  Have  never  seen  a  list  of  the  corporators  ; 
the  vestrymen  are  not  allowed  to  see  it  that  I  know  of.  The 
reletting  of  lots  when  leases  expired  was  done  by  a  finance  com- 
mittee to  whom  the  offers  were  made  and  then  approved  by  the 
vestry.  They  do  not  make  annual  reports  of  the  affairs  of  the 
church  nor  are  any  published. 

William  E.  Dunscomb^  sworn. — Am  comptroller  of  Trinity 
Church. 

Q.  In  addition  to  the  property  set  forth  in  the  report  to  the 
Legislature,  does  not  Trinity  Church  hold  other  bonds  and  mort- 
gages 1  A.  There  are  unproductive  mortgages  on  churches, 
taken  for  grants  made  which  were  not  included.  A  sum  of 
money  is  granted  as  a  loan  and  mortgages  taken  for  the  aid 
granted  to  the  churches;  like  other  mortgages,  there  is  a  power 
to  foreclose  them,  but  we  never  take  measures  to  collect  them  ; 


108 


REPORT  OF    SELECT  COMMITTEE. 


never  have  exercised  the  power ;  it  is  understood  as  being  an 
ordinary  loan,  as  aid  to  them,  but  giving  Trinity  Church  the 
right  to  call  for  principal  or  interest.  I  have  no  recollection  of 
measures  being  taken  to  foreclose.  I  cannot  state  the  name  of 
the  persons  entitled  to  vote.  I  have  no  authority  to  give  the 
list  of  bonds  and  mortgages  above  referred  to,  and  would  consult 
with  the  vestry. 

Q.  Have  you  a  list  of  the  voters  in  your  possession  ?  A.  One 
of  the  lists  was  lost  and  afterwards  found,  and  the  number  but 
not  the  names  was  added  to  our  report.  I  presume  their  names 
are  in  the  office  ;  if  the  committee  of  the  vestrj?"  authorize  me  to 
furnish  such  list  I  will  do  so. 

Q.  What  interest  if  any  has  Trinity  Church  in  St.  John's 
Park  ?  A.  Since  its  appropriation  as  a  park,  it  has  never  been 
considered  as  property  to  be  disposed  of  by  the  church  ;  they 
owned  the  whole  park  originally  ;  we  have  never  made  any 
negotiation  for  the  sale  of  it ;  do  not  know  that  owners  have 
offered  the  church  any  sum  for  their  interest ;  the  vestry  did  fix 
a  value  of  $400,000  upon  it. 

Q.  Did  you  find  it  difficult  to  sell  lots  in  their  present  condi- 
tion ?  A.  We  cannot  sell  them  without  first  consulting  our 
tenants,  and  nobody  applies  to  purchase  leased  lots  but  them. 
On  page  6  of  the  report,  those  37  lots  sold  have  been  mostly 
sold  to  the  tenants,  and  the  47  re-let  have  been  re-let  to  the 
lessees.  The  church  does  sell  lots  in  the  neighborhood  of  War- 
ren and  Murray-streets,  where  they  have  become  valuable. 

Q.  What  was  the  inducement  to  continue  under  lease  the  pro- 
perty corner  Murray  and  Broadway-sts.,  when  ofiered  $50,000 
for  it  ?  A.  They  have  sold  so  much  that  they  want  to  keep  in 
reserve  for  all  time  something  for  the  churches.  The  renewal 
of  the  leases  is  done  by  a  committee.  The  value  of  the  buildings 
separate  from  the  lots,  was  estimated  by  sending  around  agents 
to  enquire  into  the  value  of  those  buildings.  Trinity  Church 
makes  an  annual  report  to  the  body  of  the  vestry  of  the  affairs 
of  the  corporation,  but  does  not  publish  it.  The  report  is  in 
the  office,  and  open  to  the  inspection  of  any  member  of  the 
vestry. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


109 


Q.  Have  not  the  vestry  been  urged  by  Gen.  Dix  and  others  to 
publish  it?  A.  Gen.  Dix  was  anxious  to  have  it  published,  but 
the  vestry  did  not  think  it  worth  while;  he  wanted  it  published 
to  be  useful  to  the  vestry,  but  not  for  general  circulation.  There 
have  been  two  reports  made  to  the  Legislature  which  were 
published  at  large,  but  the  others  were  not  intended  for  general 
circulation. 

Copy  of  Mr.  Dunscomb's  testimony  made  and  sent  to  him  at 
his  request. 

Cyrus  Curtiss^  svjorn. — Am  merchant  in  the  city  of  New-York; 
am  a  vestryman  of  the  Trinity  Cliurch;  have  been  so  for  about  6 
years;  I  have  seen  one  list  of  the  corporators  which  was  kept  by 
Dr.  Berrian,  at  an  election.  There  is  an  annual  report  of  the 
affairs  of  the  corporation  made,  but  not  published;  some  of  the 
vestry  have  desired  to  have  it  published.  Have  been  on  a  com- 
mittee to  examine  the  annual  report  and  examination  of  the 
accounts  of  the  controller;  they  have  access  to.  all  the  books 
referred  to  in  the  annual  report,  and  such  only. 

Q.  Why  do  you  continue  to  relet  lots  instead  of  selling  when 
the  corporation  is  in  want  of  funds  1  A.  I  cannot  say  because 
it  is  a  subject  that  belongs  to  the  standing  committee  of  which 
I  am  not  a  member;  do  not  know  of  the  number  of  lots  given 
away  since  1814.  It  has  been  the  policy  of  the  vestry  of  late  to 
give  no  lots,  what  they  give  is  a  donation.  The  pews  iu  Trinity 
Chapel  were  let  the  first  year  in  a  manner  to  preclude  the  crea  • 
tion  of  a  corporator;  by  that  act  they  deprived  them  of  the  pri- 
vilege of  voting  as  a  pew-holder,  and  on  the  second  year  that 
restrictive  clause  was  rescinded.  My  impression  is,  the  stand- 
ing committee  has  the  power  to  renew  leases  in  the  church.  I 
do  not  know  the  value  of  the  interest  of  the  Trinity  Church  in 
St.  John's  Park. 

Q.  Has  no  value  been  placed  on  it?  A.  I  am  not  able  to  say 
that  any  value  has  been  placed  on  it;  the  subject  of  selling  it 
was  referred  to  a  committee.  The  business  of  the  church  is 
principally  done  through  the  standing  committee,  comprising 
about  six  besides  the  controller  and  clerk.    I  should  suppose 


110 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


the  controller  has  the  power  to  furnish  a  list  of  cissets  and  cor- 
porators. 

Adjourned  to  Friday,  19th  December,  10  A.  M. 

New-York,  Dec,  185G,  10  a.  m. 
Committee  met,  present  all  the  members. 

James  H.  JYoe^  brush  manufacturer^  swum. — Q.  Bid  you  buy  a 
lot  of  Trinity  church  within  a  year  ?  A.  I  did;  the  deed  is 
dated  the  1st  of  May. 

Q.  At  what  time  did  you  make  your  bargain?  A.  In  the  lat- 
ter part  of  January  or  1st  of  February,  1856. 

Q.  Where  was  the  lot  %    A.  275  Greenwich-street. 

Q.  What  price  did  you  pay  tor  it  ?    A.  $20,000. 

Q.  Do  you  know  of  any  other  lot  sold  in  that  neighborhood? 
A.  No,  sir. 

Supplementary  Report  in  reply  to  a  note  of  Hon.  Mark  Spencer^ 
Jame'j  JYoxon  and  J.  H.  Ramsey.^  a  committee  of  the  Senate.^  hear- 
ing date  December  2,  1856,  from  Trinity  churcJ}^  handed  in^ 
marked  J. 

Ahner  L.  E/y^  recalled. — Q.  Will  you  look  at  that  appraisal 
and  say  which  is  yours  ?  A.  The  second  column,  with  my  name 
at  the  top,  with  the  figures  entered  in  black  ink. 

Jno.  W.  Ritchj  recalled. — Since  last  sworn  I  have  collected 
several  of  the  maps  presented  by  me  on  that  occasion,  and  the 
appraisal  is  my  appraisal  of  the  lots  appearing  upon  the  maps 
as  corrected.  The  sum  total  is  $5,431,520.  The  valuations 
numbered  from  1  to  39  consecutively,  correspond  with  the  maps 
and  are  my  valuations  of  the  property  represented  on  the  maps. 
This  valuation  is  made  as  the  price  they  would  now  bring  at 
auction.  My  valuations  are  so  moderate  that  I  can  find  pur- 
chasers for  the  several  lots  at  the  prices  I  have  named. 

Rev.  Hairy  Anthon  swor7i. — Was  assistant-minister  in  Trinity 
church  from  1831  to  1836. 

Q.  Do  you  think,  from  what  you  saw  during  that  period  and 
up  to  this  time,  that  the  vestry  of  Trinity  church  has  done  its 
utmost  to  make  the  capital  of  the  property  of  that  corporation 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


Ill 


available  for  the  founding  or  support  of  charitable  religious  and 
educational  institutions?    A.  I  do  not. 

Q.  Are  the  assistant-ministers  members  of  the  vestry  ?  A.  They 
are  not.  While  I  was  assistant  I  had  a  conversation  with  a  Mr, 
Graham,  one  of  the  vestry,  and  I  impressed  upon  him  the  neces- 
sity of  establishing  two  funds,  one  for  church  buildings  and  one 
for  church  glebes,  he  replied  that  my  policy  was  to  open  the 
strong-box  and  his  was  to  keep  it  closed  ;  my  reply  was,  no, 
your  policy  is  to  open  it  to  your  fevorites. 

Q.  In  aid  rendered  by  Trinity  Church  to  other  Episcopal 
churches  of  this  city,  since  1814,  has  such  aid  been  spontaneous 
and  voluntary  to  the  extent  of  its  means,  or  has  it  generally 
been  given  reluctantly,  and  after  earnest  and  protracted  solicita- 
tions 1 

A.  The  aid  furnished  by  Trinity  Church  since  1814  has  been 
done  upon  applications,  and  not  voluntarily,  and  such  aid  in 
many  cases,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  has  been  reluctantly 
granted. 

Q.  Have  mortgages  in  many  cases  been  required  as  security 
for  the  sum  advanced  ? 

A.  In  several  cases,  to  my  knowledge,  it  has  been  done. 

Q.  What  elfect  has  aid  in  these  forms  upon  independence  of 
speech  and  freedom  of  action  on  the  part  of  parishes  and  clergy- 
men thus  aided  when  they  meet  in  our  diocesan  conventions  and 
other  church  associations,  and  when  there  are  diversities  of 
opinion  as  to  matters  of  morals  and  doctrine  ? 

A.  In  my  opinion  the  elfect  is  seriously  to  impair  their  inde- 
pendence. 

Q.  In  applications  for  aid,  has  Trinity  church,  in  your  opin- 
ion, favored  those  whose  party  views  and  actions  were  similar  to 
her  own  1 

A.  Unquestionably.  For  instance,  while  the  application  of 
St.  Jude's  church  was  pending,  which  was  ultimately  refused,  it 
is  said  grants  were  made  St.  Luke's,  the  Holy  Apostles,  Dr.  Sea- 
bury's,  and  others. 

Q.  Have  they  refused  aid  on  the  avowed  ground  that  the  views 
of  the  applicants  were  not  coincident  with  their  own  ? 


112 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


A.  It  is  my  belief  that  they  have, 

Q.  Have  they  in  any  way  endeavored  to  control  the  free  opin- 
ion or  acts  of  vestries  or  ministers  who  had  received  or  were 
seeking  aid  for  their  churches  1 

A.  I  know  an  instance  where  they  refused  aid  because  the 
rector  had  interested  himself  in  obtaining  signatures  to  a  memo- 
rial to  the  Legislature  for  the  repeal  of  the  act  of  1S14.  It  was 
in  the  .case  of  St.  Jude's  church,  in  this  city,  in  1845.  He  was 
informed  that  the  success  of  his  application  depended  upon  his 
keeping  silence  in  the  convention.  It  is  my  impression  that  the 
large  grants  of  aid  to  the  Church  of  the  Annunciation,  when 
country  churches  were  refused  aid  in  small  sums  of  |300  to  $400, 
showed  the  operation  ofpartizan  feelings.  It  appears  to  me,  that 
the  History  of  Trinity  Church,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Berrian,  from  1835 
to  1847,  shows  that  the  grants  to  churches  and  individuals  stand 
in  the  proportion  of  ^?80,000  to  what  are  called  high  churchmen, 
to  $8,000  to  those  who  are  called  low  church.  (Pages  384,  385, 
386,  History  of  Trinity  Church,  by  Dr.  Berrian,  the  rector.) 

Q.  What  facts  are  in  your  knowledge  to  prove  that  the  vestry 
of  Trinity  church  has  not  done  its  utmost  to  make  the  capital  of 
the  property  of  that  corporation  available  for  the  founding  or 
support  of  charitable,  religious,  and  educational  institutions  ? 

A.  In  1813,  the  property  was  of  such  value  that  the  vestry,  to 
calm  the  fears  of  the  Legislature,  in  view  of  their  great  wealth, 
promised  that  their  funds  should  be  applied  to  the  building  of 
churches,  from  time  to  time,  as  tlie  increase  of  population  de- 
manded; the  control  of  such  churches  to  be  relinquished  to 
independent  vestries,  &c.,  suitable  endowments  to  be  made.  In 
the  forty-three  years  that  have  elapsed  since  1813,  the  vestry 
have  built  Trinity  church  and  its  chapel,  at  a  cost,  it  is  said,  of 
half  a  million,  a  sum  which  would  have  built  twenty-five  or 
thirty  ordinary  churches,  and  instead  of  endowing  any  churches 
have  made  loans  to  several,  from  time  to  time,  taking  mortgages 
on  their  property,  &c.,  consequently  holding  then:  as  their 
debtors. 

Q.  Has  the  law  of  1814  been  acquiesced  in  by  Episcopalians 
generally,  or  have  they  resisted  it  as  an  illegal  violation  of  their 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


113 


vested  rights?  A.  Tlie  law  of  1814  has  not  been  acquiesced  in 
by  Episcopalians  in  this  city,  and  has  been  objected  to,  and  strong 
efforts  have  been  made  by  Episcopalians  to  have  it  repealed. 

Joseph  Tucker^  sworn. — I  purchased  two  lots  of  Trinity  Church 
in  April  last,  for  $10,T)00  each ;  numbers  283  and  285  Hudsim-st., 
west  side,  seventy-five  feet  from  Spring-st. 

Matthias  Clarkj  sworn. — I  purchased  one  lot  of  Trinity  Church 
about  the  first  of  last  March,  number  525  Greenwich-street,  gave 
$6,000  for  it.  I  have  known  the  property  a  good  many  years, 
and  do  not  consider  there  was  any  variation  of  any  consequence 
in  the  value  of  my  own  or  Mr.  Tucker's  lots  for  six  months  pre- 
vious to  the  purchase, 

Jlhner  L.  Ely^  recalled. — Presents  an  appraisement;  this  ap- 
praisement is  my  valuation  of  the  property  appearing  upon  the 
maps  as  corrected  by  Mr.  Ritch;  the  column  in  the  list  with  my 
name  at  the  head  is  my  appraisement.  I  should  be  willing  to 
purchase  any  three  lots  lying  together  at  my  vahiation  above 
Reade-street.    Paper  marked  I,    Total  valuation  $6,103,500. 

John  M.  Doddy  recalled  — The  appraisement  presented  by  Mr. 
Ely  contains  in  it  my  appraisement  of  the  value  of  the  lots  set 
forth  in  the  maps.  The  column  in  the  list  with  my  name  at  the 
head  is  my  appraisement.  I  will  purchase  to  the  extent  of  my 
means  any  or  all  of  the  property  at  the  value  I  have  put  upon  it. 
I  consid'  r  it  a  low  valuation,  except  the  down  town  property 
which  I  consider  valued  at  its  present  selling  price.  Paper 
marked  I.    Total  valuation  |6,087,050. 

James  M.  Tuthill^  sworn. — I  bought  last  February  a  lot  of  Trinity 
Church  for  my  wife;  gave  $10,450  for  it;  marked  as  No.  12 
Hubert-street  on  map;  deed  says  10. 

Stephen  Camhrelling^  sworn. — I  am  a  member  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church. 

Q.  Are  you  intimately  acquainted  with  the  affairs  of  Trinity 
Church  ?    A.I  cannot  say  that  I  am. 

Q.  Do  you  think  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  has  done  its 
utmost  to  make  the  capital  of  the  property  of  that  corporation 


8 


114 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


available  for  the  founding,  or  support  of  charitable,  religious  or 
educational  institutions  1    A.  1  should  think  not. 

Q.  Upon  what  facts  do  you  found  your  opinion  1  A.  From 
their  not  having  erected  or  assisted  in  the  erection  of  free 
churches  in  the  city,  and  in  not  assisting  feeble  churches  re- 
quiring aid. 

Q.  From  whom  was  this  property  derived  1.  A.I  would  refer 
to  the  charter  and  grants. 

Q.  What  has  been  the  effect  of  the  law  of  1814  upon  the 
church  and  upon  the  acts  of  Trinity  Church  1  A.  It  has  been 
unfavorable,  undoubtedly. 

Q.  In  what  respect  1  A.  It  would  seem  since  the  passage  of 
that  act,  the  course  of  Trinity  Church  has  been  much  less  liberal 
to  the  church  in  the  city  of  New-York ;  the  law  has  been  the  sub- 
ject of  complaint  by  Episcopalians  generally  in  New- York,  aside 
from  Trinity  Church  and  her  chapels,  and  the  Episcopal  com- 
munity has  not  acquiesced  in  it. 

James  W,  Webh.  sworn. — I  am  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church.  Am  not  acquainted  with  any  facts  relative  to 
the  passage  of  the  law  of  1814  and  its  effects  upon  the  church. 
I  am  editor  of  the  Courier  &  Enquirer,  and  have  been  for  29 
years  I  wrote  the  editorial  article  in  the  Courier  of  this  mor- 
ning relative  to  Trinity  Church,  and  also  the  article  to  which  it 
refers,  cop  ed  from  the  Courier  of  1844. 

Q.  Did  you  ever  converse  with  Chancellor  K6nt  relative  to 
the  law  of  1814,  as  to  its  constitutionality?  A.  I  had  repeated 
conversations  with  the  late  Chancellor  Kent  in  relation  to  the 
constitutionality  of  the  law  referred  to,  in  course  of  which  he 
distinctly  expressed  the  opinion  that  he  had  become  satisfied 
that  it  was  unconstitutional,  although  he  had  voted  in  favor  of 
it  in  the  Council  of  Revision.  He  further  said  that  if  there  was 
any  necessity  for  it,  he  would  give  me  at  any  time  a  certificate 
to  that  effect. 

R.  S.  Wiley ^  sworn. — Reside  in  the  city  of  New-York;  am  pas- 
tor of  Christ's  church ;  was  not  a  clergyman  of  the  church  at  the 
time  of  the  grant  from  Trinity  church;  my  connection  with  the 
church  commenced  in  Sept.  1855. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


115 


Q.  Can  you  state  any  facts  in  relation  to  the  grants  of  aid  to 
the  church  by  the  vestry  of  Trinity  church  ?    A.  I  cannot. 

Robert  Rowland^  sworn — I  am  a  minister  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church;  am  rector  of  the  church  of  the  Holy  Apostles. 

Q.  Do  you  think  the  vestry  of  Trinity  church  has  done  its 
utmost  to  make  the  capital  of  the  property  of  that  corporation 
available  for  the  founding  or  support  of  charitable,  religious,  or 
educational  institutions?  A.  I  think  it  has  been  their  inten- 
tion ;  I  do  not  think  they  have  done  as  much  as  they  should  for 
the  building  of  free  churches,  or  for  the  aid  of  feeble  churches. 
My  church  received  $6,000  from  Trinity  church  and  gave  the 
usual  mortgage. 

John  D.  Wolfe  r^ecalled — Q.  Who  conducted  the  elections  when 
you  were  vestryman  in  Trinity  church?  A.  The  rector,  Dr. 
Berrian,  In  addition  to  the  requirements  of  the  law  they  re- 
quired that  all  persons  desiring  to  vote  should  give  previous 
written  notice  of  such  desire  to  the  rector.  I  objected  to  that 
requirement  when  a  vestryman;  I  considered  it  an  obstacle  to 
voting  contrary  to  the  law. 

Q.  In  applications  for  aid  has  Trinity  church,  in  your  opinion, 
favored  those  whose  party  views  and  actions  were  similar  to  her 
own?  A.  I  accused  them  openly  of  being  governed  by  party 
views  in  granting  aid  to  churches. 

Q,  Have  they  refused  aid  on  the  avowed  ground  that  the 
views  of  the  applicants  were  not  coincident  with  their  own  ? 
A.  I  think  they  did  decline  on  that  ground,  as  far  as  their  gifts 
extend;  the  church  is  divided  into  two  parties  of  high  church 
and  low  church,  and  the  aid  almost  universally  granted  is  to 
churches  known  as  high  church. 

Q.  What  was  done  with  applications  for  aid  from  those  repre- 
senting low  churches  1    A.  Almost  universally  declined. 

Q.  Will  you  please  look  over  the  list  now  handed  to  you  of 
persons  represented  to  be  corporators  of  Trinity  church?  Do 
you  see  on  it  the  names  of  any  considerable  number  of  deceased 
persons,  or  of  persons  who  have  removed  from  this  city  ?  A.  On 
the  list  of  "corporators  who  are  communicants  and  not  pew- 


116 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


holders"  do  not  know  of  any  of  tliem  having  deceased;  on  the 
list  of  ^'  corporators  as  pew-holders"  there  are  some  names  of 
deceased  persons,  and  of  persons  residing  out  of  the  city. 

W.  JI,  Muhlenhergj  sworn— I  am  a  minister  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church;  have  been  in  the  ministry  for  thirty-nine 
years — for  ten  of  which  I  have  been  in  the  city  of  New- York. 

Q.  How  many  free  Protestant  Episcopal  churches  have  been 
established  as  such  by  Trinity  church  in  this  city^  within  the  last 
five  years?  A.  Trinity  church  has  not  established  any  free 
churches  in  this  city  within  the  last  five  years, 

Q.  Has  Trinity  church  clergymen,  employed  as  ministers  at 
large,  whose  special  duty  it  is  to  look  after  the  spiritual  wants 
of  the  poor  and  destitute  among  the  "  inhabitants  of  the  city  of 
New-York,  in  communion  with  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  1" 
A.  I  do  not  know  that  she  maintains  any  ministers,  besides  those 
officiating  in  her  own  churches;  but  she  partially  supports  others, 
who  are  ministers  of  free  churches,  in  this  city. 

Q.  Has  the  aid  granted  to  free  churches  been  at  all  commen- 
surate with  its  ability  ?  A.  So  far  from  doing  her  utmost,  in 
extending  aid  to  feeble  churches,  and  in  providing  for  the  reli- 
gious and  moral  improvement  of  the  poor  of  the  city,  in  these 
respects,  I  think  she  has  fallen  far  short  of  her  ability,  reck- 
oning her  ability  at  what  it  is  generally  understood  to  be.  In 
a  large  section  of  the  eastern  part  of  the  city,  with  a  poor 
and  crowded  population,  and  where  free  churches  are  especially 
needed,  not  more  than  one  Episcopal  church  has  been  erected 
within  the  last  twenty  years;  while  recently.  Trinity  church  has 
erected  a  chapel,  at  a  cost  for  which  three  or  four  churches  could 
have  been  built,  equally  substantial  and  capacious  with  the  said 
chapel,  and  this  in  a  quarter  of  the  city  in  which  the  people  are 
able  to  build  churches  for  themselves.  Missionaries,  endeav- 
oring to  establish  free  churches  in  the  above  mentioned  eastern 
district,  and  struggling  to  support  themselves  while  so  doing, 
have  frequentl}^  complained  of  the  little  encouragement  alforded 
them  by  Trinity  church  in  effecting  their  object.  Trinity  church 
has  made  no  permanent  provision  for  her  own  poor — her  desti- 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


117 


tute  widows,  orphans  and  sick.  I  mean  in  the  way  of  founding 
institutions  for  their  benefit;  with  the  exception,  perhaps,  of 
Trinity  school.  The  aid  extended  by  Trinity  church  to  feeble 
churches,  or  congregations,  is  granted  as  a  favor,  and  in  most 
instances,  (so  far  as  I  am  informed,)  not  until  after  much  solici- 
tation on  the  part  of  those  to  whom  it  is  given.  The  foregoing 
are  notorious  facts;  and^as  such  I  have  stated  them,  and  not  on 
any  knowledge  peculiar  to  myself  in  the  premises. 

Adjourned  to  20th  inst.,  10,  A.  M.  ^ 

20th  Dec,  1856,  committee  met,  present  all  the  members. 

Frederick  S.  Winston^  sworn — In  answer,  has  been  a  resident 
of  N^ev»^-York  thirty-one  years;  am  president  of  the  Mutual  Life 
Insurance  company,  of  New-York. 

Q,  Does  your  company  loan  money  on  bond  and  mortgage  in 
this  city?  A.  We  have  about  $3,000,000  on  bond  and  mortgage 
in  this  city. 

Q.  Have  you  examined  the  maps  of  the  property  of  Trinity 
church  here  exhibited,  and  the  valuations  made  by  order  of  this 
committee  by  Messrs.  Aldrich,  Ebner  L.  Ely,  Jno.  M.  Dodd  and 
John  W.  Ritch  1    A.  I  have. 

Q.  What  is  the  reputation  of  the  appraisers,  above  named,  for 
judgment  and  knowledge  as  to  the  present  value  of  real  estate  in 
those  parts  of  the  city,  where  said  property  is  situated.  A.  They 
are  considered  men  of  good  judgment  and  are  familiar  with 
property  in  those  parts  of  the  city.  They  are  frequently  con- 
sulted or  employed  by  persons  having  money  to  loan  on  or  to 
invest  in  real  estate.    They  are  experts. 

Q.  What  effect  has  the  disposal  of  large  masses  of  property  by 
lease,  upon  the  value  of  contiguous  real  estate  held  by  individu- 
als or  others;  upon  the  increase  of  commercial  facilities,  manu- 
facturing or  other  improvements,  the  augmentation  of  taxable 
property  and  the  employment  of  mechanical  and  other  labor  ? 
A.  It  operates  generally  as  a  dead  weight  upon  the  value  and  pro- 
ductiveness of  such  contiguous  real  estate.  It  has  the  effect  of 
depressing  the  value  of  contiguous  property  by  preventing  im- 


118 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE. 


provements.  It  tends  to  cheapen  and  keep  down  the  character 
of  improvements  for  commercial  and  other  purposes,  both  upoB 
the  leased  property  and  the  real  estate  adjoining^  and  by  these 
means  throws  the  great  burden  of  taxation  upon  other  property 
held  in  fee,  and  necessarily  furnishes  less  employment  for  the 
laboring  and  mechanical  classes. 

Q.  Has  the  value  of  the  real  estate  of  Trinity  church  greatly  in- 
creased since  18141  A.  It  has;  some  of  it  very  greatly  in  value^ 
most  of  it  largely. 

Q.  What  was  the  population  of  the  city  of  New- York  in  1814? 
A.  About  105,000. 

Q.  What  in  1855 '?    A,  629,850,  or  sixfold  increase. 

Q.  How  many  free  Protestant  Episcopal  Churches  are  there 
in  this  city?  A.  The  following  are  so  considered  -  Holy  Com- 
munion, Epiphany,  Holy  Innocents,  Nativity,  Memorial,  St, 
Michael's.  I  know  of  no  other,  unless  the  church  in  Beekman- 
street  be  so  considered.  Most  of  these  churches  are  feeble,  and 
exist  by  the  unwearied  appeals  for  assistance  and  support  made 
by  their  ministers  from  week  to  week  upon  the  charity  and 
liberality  of  private  individuals  who  are  members  of  the  Protest- 
ant Episcopal  Church. 

Q.  How  many  have  been  established  as  such  by  Trinity 
Cnurch  ?  A.  None  that  I  know  of.  She  aided  in  the  establish- 
ment of  two  in  connection  with  the  City  Mission  Society  ;  but 
they  were  subsequently  abandoned,  and  the  property  of  one  re- 
verted  to  Trinity  church,  I  believe. 

Q.  Has  Trinity  Church  clergymen  employed  as  ministers  at 
large,  whose  special  duty  it  is  to  look  after  the  spiritual  wants 
of  the  poor  and  destitute  among  the  "  inhabitants  of  the  city  of 
New- York,  in  communion  with  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
of  the  State  of  New-York  ?"  A.I  know  of  no  clergymen  so 
employed  by  Trinity  Church,  or  of  any  disconnected  with  the 
services  of  Trinity  Church  and  her  chapels.  I  think  there  are 
independent  Episcopal  churches  in  this  city,  with  little  or  no 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


119 


endowment,  which  contribute  more  in  money  and  labor  to  teach 
and  preach  religion  through  our  church  at  home  and  abroad, 
and  whose  benefactions  reach  a  larger  amount  in  aid  of  Christian 
and  benevolent  objects,  than  those  of  Trinity  Church  and  its 
chapels,  with  the  vast  endowment  it  controls. 

Q.  Has  Trinity  Church  ever  established  hospitals  or  other 
institutions  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  7  A.  Trinity  Church  has 
never,  to  my  knowledge,  established  any  hospital  or  public  insti- 
tution for  the  spiritual  or  temporal  benefit  of  the  poor  in  connee- 
tion  with  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  or  otherwise, 

Q.  What  increase  has  there  been  in  the  number  of  the  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  Churches  in  the  last  ten  years  '?  A.  I  doubt 
whether  there  are  any  more  Protestant  Episcopal  Churches  in 
the  city  now  than  there  were  ten  years  ago.  The  increase  has 
been  very  slight,  if  any, 

Q.  What  increase  in  the  city  churches  in  accomodation  for 
the  poor?  A  I  think  but  little  additional  accommodation,  if 
any. 

Q.  What  increase  in  the  city  population  in  that  time  1 
A.  Probably  over  200,000. 

Q.  Has  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  increased  in  numbers 
in  that  time  1    A.  It  has  largely  increased, 

Q.  Has  the  poor  increased  in  proportion  1  A.  They  have  kept 
pace  fully. 

Q.  What  increase  in  the  value  of  the  property  of  Trinity 
church  in  that  time.    A,  I  think  it  has  more  than  doubled. 

Q.  Is  there,  or  is  there  not,  in  the  city  a  prevailing  sentiment 
against  appropriations  by  Trinity  church  to  country  churches  1 
A.  There  is  not.  The  complaint  against  Trinity  church  is  not 
for  what  she  has  given,  but  for  what  she  has  withheld. 

R.  S.  Rowland^  re-called, — Q.  Have  you  made  any  application 
yourself  to  Trinity  church  in  behalf  of  some  poor  church?  A.  Two 
and  a  half  years  ago,  I  made  a  proposition  to  Trinity  church 
to  give  $20,000,  $15,000  for  a  free  church,  and  $5,000  for  schools 
connected  with  it,  if  they  would  contribute,  I  think  it  was, 
$10,000  to  the  same  purpose.    They  took  no  notice  of  it  ;  they 


120 


REPORT  or  SELt  CT  COMMITTEE 


did  not  even  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  my  communication. 
One  year  ago  I  renewed  this  proposition  in  another  form.  The 
application  was  for  about  |1 5,000  for  aid  to  two  churches,  the 
Holy  Apostles'  and  St.  Timothy's,  offering  at  the  same  time,  on 
my  part,  a  similar  amount.  The  standing  committee-  of  the 
vestry  have  reported  against  accepting  my  proposition,  hut  the 
vestry  have  it  still  under  consideration.  Members  of  the  vestry 
have  stated  that  they  reported  against  it,  from  the  fact  that  they 
had  no  tunds.  While  this  was  pending  they  have  expended 
$15,000  for  the  improvement  of  St.  John's  chapel  and  the  schools 
connected  with  it.  The  two  churches  for  which  I  applied  were 
very  poor  and  needy,  and  while  my  application  has  been  pend- 
ing they  have  finished  an  expensive  chapel  in  Twenty-sixth-st.,. 
for  a  neighborhood  that,  it  is  my  impression,  was  able  to  build 
one  for  themselves. 

Q.  Do  you  receive  any  salary  in  the  church  where  you  are 
rector?  A.  I  do  not  receive  any;  my  services  are  rendered 
gratuitously,  in  addition  to  which,  I  pay  from  $500  to  $1,200 
annually  towards  supporting  the  assistant-minister  and  mission- 
ary connected  with  {\ie  cl.urch,  because  my  congregation  are  not 
able  to  support  one  minister. 

Q.  What  is  the  nature  of  the  advances  made  by  Trinity  church 
to  other  churches  ?  A.  When  Trinity  church  makes  advances 
to  other  churches,  it  is  my  impression  it  is  done  as  benefactions; 
it  is  treated  by  them  as  a  charity  from  them,  rather  than  as  an 
application  of  the  trust  funds  to  which  all  the  churches  have  a 
right. 

Q.  Do  you  think  there  is  a  prevailing  sentiment  among^Epis- 
copalians  in  this  city  against  the  distribution  of  the  funds  of 
Trinity  church  among  country  churches?  A.  I  do  not. 
■  Q.  Do  you  think  the  possession  of  this  property  by  Trinity 
church,  managed  as  it  is,  prevents  the  growth  of  the  church  in 
this  city?    A.  I  think  it  does. 

G.  J.  Geer^  sworn:  I  am  an  Episcopal  clergyman  in  the  city 
of  New-York.  I  am  assistant  minister  in  the  church  of  the  Holy 
Apostles,  and  rector  elect  of  St.  Timothy's  church,  in  Fifty-first 
street.    In  the  whole  region  of  the  northwestern  part  of  the 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


121 


city,  from  Twenty-sixth  street  up  to  St.  Michael's,  Bloomingdale, 
I  am  the  only  resident  minister  that  I  am  aware  of,  who  sus- 
tains parochial  relations  of  the  Episcopal  church.  The  spiritual 
destitution  throughout  that  portion  of  the  city,  is  awful.  I  was 
elected  rector  of  St.  Timothy's  one  year  ago  last  November  or 
October.  During  that  time,  I  have  supplied  them  with  Sunday 
services,  and  have  answered  such  calls  as  have  been  made  upon 
me  for  parochial  duty,  in  that  whole  neighborhood,  from  Twenty- 
sixth-street  to  Fifty-fifth-street.  There  is  a  small  church  in  the 
Eighth  avenue,  near  Fortieth-street,  the  church  of  the  Advent, 
the  rector  of  which  resides  down  tow^n;  so,  that  for  the  minis- 
trations to  the  poor,  there  is  no  other  provision  made.  It  has 
been  represented  to  Trinity  church  that  we  are  ready  to  begin  an 
earnest  parochial  work  for  the  upper  portion  of  this  section  of 
which  I  speak,  and  we  only  wait  for  the  acceptance  of  the  propo- 
sition of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rowland.  This  proposition  still  remains 
unaccepted,  and  at  their  last  meeting,  I  am  informed  the  standing 
committee  unanimously  reported  against  it.  The  reason  assigned 
by  various  members  of  the  vestry,  was  want  of  ability;  and  in- 
dividual members  of  the  vestry  acknowledged  the  proposition 
the  noblest  ever  made  to  it.  During  this  year,  I  think  in  the 
spring,  a  letter  was  addressed  to  Trinity  church,  by  a  warden 
and  the  vestrymen  of  St.  Timothy's  church,  calling  their  atten- 
tion to  this  proposition  of  Mr.  Howland,  and  setting  forth  the 
great  want  of  a  church  in  that  neighborhood;  which  letter  has 
never  received  the  slightest  attention,  that  we  are  aware  of. 

In  my  judgment,  the  selling  of  Zion  church,  or  the  permitting 
it  to  pass  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Episcopal  church,  in  this  city, 
was  indicative  of  a  want  of  serious  joncernfor  the  spiritual  wants 
of  that  most  destitute  portion  of  the  city,  on  the  part  of  Trinity 
church.  Zion  church  was  located  in  the  five  points.  I  w^as  in- 
formed that  the  clergy  of  the  city  did  make  great  efforts  to  have 
the  church  retained.  I  have  been  informed  that  the  Roman 
Catholics  have  become  possessed  of  it.  Trinity  church  gives  to 
St.  Timothy's  church,  two  hundred  dollars  as  a  stipend,  which 
she  can  cut  off'at  any  moment. 

Jilfred  B.  Beachj  sworn:  I  am  an  Episcopal  clergyman  in  the 
city  of  New-York — rector  of  St.  Peter's  church,  in  20th-street,* 


122 


REPORT  OP  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


My  cliurch  made  application  within  two  years,  to  Trinity  church 
for  aid,  St.  Peter's  church  was  very  much  in  debt,  and  the 
application  was  for  relief  from  that  debt.  A  full  statement  of 
our  debt  of  $  J0,000  was  made  to  Trinity  church,  and  aid  asked  to 
relieve  us  from  it;  the  church  is  situated  in  Chelsea,  a  poor  part 
of  the  city;  was  built  in  1836,  and  became  involved,  owing  to 
the  failure  of  those  who  undertook  the  building  Trinity  church 
advanced  to  St.  Peter's  $25,000,  taking  a  mortgage  lor  it,  or 
rather  St  Peter's  borrowed  of  Trinity  church,  |25,000  which  she 
first  granted  as  a  loan,  then  on  application  from  St.  Peter's  for 
Trinity  church  to  assume  the  bond.  Trinity  church  agreed  to  let 
the  mortgage  remain,  on  condition  that  Dr.  Moore  who  had  leased 
seven  lots  to  St.  Peter's,  would  convey  the  same  in  fee  to  St. 
Peter's  church,  and  also  that  St.  Peter's  church  would  pay  a 
floating  debt  that  had  accrued,  amounting  to  some  $17,000,  which 
both  Dr.  Moore  and  the  congregation  of  St.  Peter's  did  ;  we 
subsequently  applied  for  further  aid,  which  has  been  refused. 
Application  has  been  made  to  Trinity  church,  by  those  who  had 
given  bonds  to  allow  the  mortgage  held  by  Mr.  Lenox,  to  be  a 
first  morfgage,  which  they  refused,  saying,  if  after  paying  oif 
their  mortgage  of  $26,000,  there  was  enough  left  to  pay  Mr.  Lenox 
his  debt  and  one  year's  interest,  they  should  then  apply  the 
balance  on  account  of  interest  on  the  $25,000. 

Mr.  Bradish  will  write  out  his  testimony,  and  hand  it  in,  by 
consent  of  the  committee. 

James  Boorman  affirms. — I  am  a  merchant  of  this  city.  When 
I  was  president  of  the  Hudson  river  railroad  company,  I  bought 
the  lease  of  font  half-lots  on  Chambers-street,  25x50;  they  were 
bought  under  leases,  two  of  which  expired  the  first  of  May  this 
year,  and  two  the  first  of  May  next  year.  The  ground  rent  for 
the  whole,  under  the  leases  which  we  bought,  was  $440.  Last  year 
a  negotiation  was  entered  into  by  our  board  for  the  renewal  of 
those  leases  I  understood  that  first  the  church  talked  of  $4,000 
as  the  rent;  the  committee  subsequently  reported  they  had  raised 
it  to  $5,000.  I  remonstrated  decidedly,  but  against  my  remon- 
strances, the  company  agreed,  in  December,  1855,  to  pay  the 
$5,000  per  year  rent,  which  at  five  per  cent.,  makes  the  fee  of  the 
lots  worth  $100,000. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


123 


Robert  B.  Minium^  of  the  city  of  New-York,  merchant,  affirms  : 
Q.  Are  you  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  1 
A.  I  am. 

Q.  Have  yon  examined  the  maps  of  the  property  of  Trinity 
Church,  here  exhibited,  and  the  valuation  made  by  order  of  the 
committee,  by  Messrs.  H.  D.  Aldrich,  Abner  L.  Ely,  John  M. 
Dodd,  and  J.  W.  Ritch,  and  what  is  their  reputation  for  judg- 
ment and  knowledge,  as  to  the  present  value  of  real  estate  in 
those  parts  of  the  city,  where  said  property  is  situated  ?  A.  I 
have  seen  the  maps  to  which  you  refer,  and  I  have  some  knowl- 
edge of  each  of  the  appraisers.  They  are  persons  of  great  res- 
pectability and  well  informed  regarding  the  value  of  real  estate. 
I  consider  them  very  competent  to  make  such  an  appraisal. 

Q  What  eifect  has  the  disposing  of  large  masses  of  property 
by  lease  upon  the  value  of  contiguous  real  estate  held  by  indi- 
viduals ?  A.  Leasehold  property  is  generally  not  so  well  im~ 
proved  as  that  held  in  fee,  and  consequently  the  effect  of  large 
leasehold  estates,  is  usually  not  favorable  to  contiguous  property. 

Q.  Has  the  value  of  the  real  estate  of  Trinity  Church  greatly 
increased  since  18141  A.  The  lots  now  held  by  Trinity  Church 
are  doubtless  worth  three  or  four  times  as  much  as  they  were  in 
1814,  and  probably  more. 

Q.  How  many  Free  Protestant  Episcopal  Churches  are  there  in 
the  city  1  A.  I  know  of  ten,  but  most  of  them  are  small  inferior 
buildings,  and  feebly  supported. 

Q.  How  many  have  been  established  as  such  by  Trinity 
Church '{  A.  That  corporation  has  never  to  my  knowledge  built 
a  church  with  free  sittings,  though  they  have  contributed  to 
several  free  churches,  and  they  grant  annual  stipends  to  minis- 
ters of  such  churches. 

Q.  Has  the  aid  granted  to  free  churches  been  at  all  com- 
mensurate with  their  ability  ?  A.  The  aid  given  to  free  churches 
by  Trinity  Church,  certainly  bears  no  proportion  to  the 
magnitude  of  the  estates  confided  to  her  direction,  nor  to  the 
amount  (over  half  a  million  of  dollars,)  which  she  has  expended 
upon  two  churches  for  her  own  use.  That  sum  would  have 
built  many  free  churches.  If  Trinity  Church  would  realize 
annually  a  small  number  of  her  city  lots  as  leases  fall  in,  she 


124 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COIMMITTEE 


might  SO  stimulate  tlie  erection  of  free  churches  as  to  go  far 
toward  meeting  the  demand  for  them.  Individuals  would  co- 
operate in  such  a  measure,  as  is  shown  by  proposals  made  to 
that  corporation  during  the  present  year,  for  the  establishment 
of  two  free  churches  in  destitute  parts  of  the  city,  provided  they 
would  furnish  half  the  cost;  these  proposals  were  not  accepted 
by  Trinity  Church. 

Q.  What  increase  has  there  been  in  the  city  churches  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  poor  during  the  last  ten  years  ?  •  A.  The 
increase  has  been  very  inconsiderable — nothing,  as  compared 
to  the  increase  of  two  hundred  thousand  in  the  population  of 
the  city  during  that  period.  The  deficiency  of  churches  for  the 
working  classes  is  shown  from  the  fact  that  in  the  4th,  6th,  13th 
and  14th  wards,  having  together  a  population  of  one  hundred 
thousand  four  hundred  and  ninety-nine  souls,  there  is  not  a  single 
Episcopal  church;  and  the  8th,  11th  and  16th  wards,  with  a 
population  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  thousand  six  hun- 
dred laid  twenty-six  souls,  have  each  but  one  Episcopal  church 
edifice.  This  deficiency  of  churches,  and  that  which  is  also  felt 
in  otlier  parts  of  the  city,  is,  in  my  opinion,  largely  attributable 
to  the  existence  of  the  Trinity  church  fund.  Individuals 
regarding  that  estate  as  a  trust  committed  to  her  for  the  common 
benefit  of  all  Episcopalians,  especially  the  destitute,  will  not 
relieve  her  from  the  responsibility,  and  so  long  as  that  fund 
remains  unapplied,  I  believe  that  nothing  effectual  will  be  done 
towards  placing  the  services  of  the  Episcopal  church  within 
reach  of  those  who  are  unable  to  provide  them  for  themselves. 

Q.  Are  you  aware  of  any  hostility  to  Trinity  church  on  the 
part  of  Episcopalians  in  the  city  on  account  of  her  donations  to 
country  churches  ?  A.  I  am  certain  that  there  is  no  such  hos- 
tility; on  the  contrary,  the  complaint  against  Trinity  church  is 
chiefly  that  more  of  the  estate  confided  to  her  charge  is  not 
realized  and  applied  efficiently  to  the  extension  of  the  church. 
The  large  class  of  Episcopalians  who  hold  this  view,  are  those 
who  give  most  freely  of  their  own  funds  towards  the  building 
and  support  of  country  churches,  and  they  w^ould  rejoice  to  see 
the  Trinity  fund  ap2:)lied  extensively  in  that  direction,  especially 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


125 


for  the  erection  of  free  churches.  They  regard  the  existence  of 
such  a  great  endowment,  kept  together  and  constant!}^  increas- 
ing by  the  rise  of  real  estate,  as  a  calamity,  from  its  tendency  to 
repress  individual  benevolence.  Their  view  is,  that  instead  of 
being  held  for  accumulation,  portions  of  that  property  should 
be  annually  realized  and  applied  to  the  extension  of  the  church 
in  this  citv  and  throudiout  the  State. 

Q.  Has  the  law  of  the  year  1814^  in  regard  to  Trinity  church, 
been  acquiesced  in  or  not  1  A.  1  believe  that  it  has  not  been 
acquiesced  in.  In  1846  a  large  number  of  Episcopalians  united 
in  a  vigorous  effort  for  its  repeal.  It  is  regarded  as  unjustly 
excluding  the  great  body  of  Episcopalians  from  participation  in 
a  common  heritage,  and  as  confining  its  direction  to  a  very  lim- 
ited number  of  persons  who  hold  pews,  or  are  communicants  in 
Trinity  church  or  its  chapels. 

Q.  Is  not  aid  often  rendered  in  the  form  of  a  yearly  allowance 
or  stipend,  to  the  clergyman  of  a  parish  subject  to  be  withdrawn 
at  the  pleasure  of  Tiinity  church  ?  What  effect  has  aid  in  this 
form  upon  the  parishes  and  clergymen  so  aided  1  A.  The  prac- 
tice of  annual  stipends  is,  in  my  judgment,  very  injurious,  cre- 
ating a  sense  of  dependence  which  is  calculated  to  impair  the 
energy  and  self-reliance  of  the  clergy  and  their  congregation. 

Stewart  Brown ^  sworn  :  I  am  a  banker  in  the  city  of  New- York. 

Q.  How  many  free  Protestant  Episcopal  churches  are  there  in 
this  city  1    A.  There  are  some  six  or  eight  free  Protestant  Epis- - 
copal  churches  in  this  city. 

Q.  How  many  have  been  established  as  such  by  Trinity  church? 
A.  JSot  any  that  I  know  of. 

^Q.  Has  Trinity  church,  clergymen  employed  as  ^ministers  at 
large,  whose  special  duty  it  is  to  look  after  the  spiritual  wants 
of  the  poor  and  destitute  among  the  "  inhabitants  of  the  city  of 
New-York,  in  communion  with  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church'?" 
A.  I  do  not  know  of  her  employing  any. 

Q.  What  increase  has  there  been  in  the  number  of  the  Protes- 
tant Episcopal  churches  in  the  last  ten  years  ?  A.  There  have 
been  some  few  additions. 


126 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Q.  What  increase  in  the  city  churches  in  accommodations  for 
the  poor  1  A.  There  is  a  very  great  want  of  sittings  for  the 
poor  in  the  churches  in  the  city. 

Q.  What  is  the  reputation  of  these  gentlemen  whose  appraise- 
ments have  been  handed  in?  A.  Mr.  Ely  I  know  well.  He  is 
a  very  good  appraiser.    I  think  the  others  are  also. 

Q.  What  effect  has  the  disposing  of  large  masses  of  property 
by  lease,  upon  the  value  of  contiguous  real  estate  held  by  indi- 
viduals? A.  The  effect  is  very  bad,  in  preventing  the  improve- 
ment of  the  adjoining  property  or  of  the  leased  property  itself, 
which,  of  course,  retards  the  improvement  of  the  city  in  that 
neighborhood. 

Q.  Has  the  value  of  the  real  estate  of  Trinity  church  greatly 
increased  since  1814?    A.  It  has  very  largely  increased. 

Q.  In  application  for  aid  has  Trinity  church,  in  your  opinion, 
favored  those  whose  party  views  and  actions  were  similar  to  her 
own?    A.  Most  decidedly. 

Q.  Have  they  in  any  way  endeavored  to  control  the  free 
opinion  or  acts  of  vestries  or  ministers  who  had  received  or  were 
seeking  aid  for  their  churches  ?    A.I  think  they  have. 

Q.  Have  Episcopalians  in  this  city  objected  to  grants  to 
country  churches?  A.  I  feel  certain  not;  on  the  contrary,  I  be- 
lieve all  who  have  the  best  interest  of  the  church  at  heart 
would  rejoice  to  see  Trinity  church  doing  all  she  could  for  the 
extension  of  religion  and  the  church  throughout  the  State  in 
country  and  city. 

Q.  Do  you  think  Trinity  Church,  in  the  distribution  of  its 
funds,  has  done  all  it  could  for  charitable  and  religious  pur- 
poses ?    A.  I  should  say  very  far  from  it. 

Q.  Do  you  know  whether  the  law  of  1814  has  been  objected 
to  by  Episcopalians  or  acquiesced  in?  A.  It  has  been  objected 
to  by  those  acquainted  with  its  provisions. 

R.  What  do  you  think  the  effect  has  been  upon  the  church 
generally  in  the  city,  by  Trinity  church  holding  this  large  fun/i? 
A.  To  retard  its  progress;  to  dampen  the  zeal  of  churchmen 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


127 


who  would  otherwise  feel  the  responsibility  and  necessity  of 
doing  the  work  which  they  now  think  it  is  the  duty  of  Trinity 
Church,  with  her  large  ability,  to  do.  I  believe  the  church  in 
this  diocese,  this  day,  would  be  more  prosperous  had  the  fund 
never  existed,  because  it  has  been  so  administered  as  to  prevent 
individuals  from  doing  their  duty. 

Adjourned  sine  die. 


SECOND  REPORT 


Mr.  Spencer,  from  the  select  committee  to  whom  the  report 
made  by  them  on  the  29th  day  of  January  last,  on  the  report  of 
Trinity  Church  made  to  the  Senate  on  the  19th  day  of  February, 
1856,  was  re-committed,  with  power  to  "  report  by  bill  or  other- 
wise," respectfully 

REPORTS  : 

That  though  the  Senate  declined  instructing  the  committee  to 
take  further  testimony  in  the  case,  yet  understanding  the  church 
regretted  that  so  little  had  been  made  of  the  opportunity  afforded 
them  in  the  city  of  New-York,  where  the  committee  made  a 
written  communication  to  the  vestry  before  they  commenced 
taking  testimony,  and  the  members  of  the  committee  personally 
invited  them  to  appear  before  them,  and  with  counsel,  deter- 
mined to  afford  them  full  opportunity  to  produce  such  testimony 
as  they  should  now  think  proper  to  bring  before  them,  and  ex- 
pressed their  readiness  to  at  once  proceed  to  the  hearing  ;  but  no 
witnesses  were  produced  before  the  committee  till  the  13th  day 
of  February,  since  which  day  nearly  all  their  time,  when  the  Sen- 
ate was  not  in  session,  till  the  fourth  day  of  March,  has  been 
devoted  to  the  examination  of  witnesses  and  hearing  counsel. 

The  church  was  represented  by  three  counsellors,  of  high 
standing  in  their  profession,  and  one  of  them  a  vestryman  of  the 
church,  and  intimately  acquainted  with  the  affairs  and  proceed- 
ings of  that  corporation. 

^9 


130 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Fifteen  witnesses  have  been  examined  before  the  committee 
by  the  counsel,  at  great  length,  all  of  whom  except  two  Bishops, 
and  one  clergyman  recalled,  were  vestrymen  or  clergymen  of 
Trinity  Church.  Mr.  De  Zeng,  the  agent  of  the  Church  at 
Albany,  w^as  also  examined  as  to  a  single  fact.  Some  interroga- 
tories were  proposed  by  the  committee,  there  being  no  opposing 
counsel,  nor  were  there  any  witnesses  produced  except  on  the 
part  of  the  church.  The  testimony  was  principally  given  in  the 
form  of  replies,  much  of  it  written,  and  evidently  prepared  with 
a  degree  ol  care  worthy  of  the  great  importance  of  the  subject  ; 
and  it  is  presumed,  from  the  connection  of  most  of  the  witnesses 
with  the  corporation  and  their  intimate  knowledge  of  all  its 
affairs,  that  nothing  of  importance  on  the  part  of  the  Church  has 
been  omitted,  from  the  mass  of  testimony  now  laid  before  the 
Senate. 

After  the  conclusion  of  the  evidence,  the  committee  have 
heard  long  and  able  arguments  on  the  facts  and  on  the  law, 
from  two  of  the  three  learned  counsel  employed  by  the  corpora- 
tion and  present  during  the  whole  of  the  examination.  Every 
advantage,  therefore,  has  been  enjoyed  that  could  reasonably  be 
demanded;  still  the  counsel  appear  to  have  thought  it  their 
duty,  in  commencing  their  argument  to  do  what  the  vestry  had 
already  done  in  their  report,  to  protest  against  the  right  of  the 
Senate  to  call  for  any  report  from  the  church  or  to  appoint  any 
committee  to  enquire  into  its  affairs,  and  in  firm,  but  not  disre- 
spectful language,  to  deny  the  authority  of  this  committee  to 
prosecute  the  enquiry  in  which  they  were  then  under  your  ap- 
pointment engaged.  The  committee  supposing  they  were  yield- 
ing to  the  wishes  of  the  church  in  thus  devoting  their  time  to 
hear  the  testimony  she  was  pleased  to  bring  before  them,  would 
have  been  quite  willing  the  objection  should  have  been  made  at 
an  earlier  stage  of  the  proceeding,  but  did  not  think  it  right  then 
to  decline  to  proceed,  and  for  several  days  quiety  listened  also 
to  the  very  long  arguments  of  the  counsel  from  whom  the  objec- 
tion proceeded. 

It  has  been  mentioned  that  during  the  progress  of  the  exami- 
nation, no  counsel  appeared  in  opposition  to  the  corporation  of 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


131 


Trinity  Church.  After  the  testimony  was  closed  a  professional 
gentleman  appeared  in  behalf  of  the  persons  claiming  to  be  ex- 
cluded corporators,  who  participated  in  the  discussion  of  the 
legal  questions  involved,  and  of  those  matters  of  fact  in  relation 
to  which  there  was  no  material  conflict.  The  argument  on  both 
sides  was  full  and  elaborate,  and  the  committee  feel  assured  that 
all  the  questions  at  issue  have  received  a  careful  and  thorough 
investigation. 

The  rights  of  Trinity  Church  under  the  several  grants  of  the 
crown  of  England;  and  the  rights  of  those  claiming  to  be  cor- 
porators, were  freely  discussed  by  the  counsel ;  and  before 
proceeding  to  speak  of  the  testimony  the  committee  would  briefly 
state  the  conclusions  to  which  they  have  been  led. 

The  right  of  the  corporation,  to  the  property  now  held  by 
Trinity  Church,  was  granted  in  the  charter  of  1697,  (which 
included  the  church  and  cemetery,  or  churchyard,)  and  the  grant 
of  the  King's  larm,  made  in  1705,  which  included  the  great 
estate  of  said  corporation. 

By  the  original  charter  of  1697,  it  is  declared  "  Tliat  the  afore- 
said church,  (meaning  the  church  erected  previous  to  1697,  on 
the  site  upon  which  Trinity  Church  is  erected,)  erected  and  built 
as  aforesaid,  and  situate  in  or  near  the  street  called  the  Broad- 
way, within  our  said  city  of  New-York,  and  the  ground  there- 
unto adjoining,  inclosed  and  used  for  a  cemetery  or  churchyard, 
shall  be  the  parish  church  and  churchyard  of  the  parish  of 
Trinity  Church,  within  our  said  city  of  New-York,  and  the  same 
is  hereby  declared  to  be  for  ever  separated  and  dedicated  to  the 
service  of  God,  and  to  be  applied  therein,  to  the  use  and  hehalj  of 
the  inhabitants  from  time  to  time  inhabiting  and  to  inhabit  within  our 
said  city  ofJ^Tew-  York^  in  communion  of  our  said  Protestant  Church  of 
England^  as  new  established  by  our  laws^  and  to  no  other  use  or  pur- 
pose whatsoever."  And  it  is  further  declared  that  the  royal  will 
and  pleasure  is  to  make  and  create,  and  the  Rector  of  said  parish, 


132 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


"  together  with  all  the  inhabit  ants  from  time  to  time  inhabiting  and 
to  inhabit  in  our  said  city  of  JYew-  York^  and  in  communion  of  our 
aforesaid  Protestant  Church  oj  England^  as  now  established  by  our 
laws,  a  body  corporate,  &c.,"  and  then  follows  the  name  of  the 
corporation  created,  which  is  in  these  words :  "  We  have  or- 
dained, constituted,  and  declared  by  these  presents,  for  us,  our 
heirs  and  successors,  do  ordain,  constitute,  and  declare,  that  he 
(Lord  Bishop  of  London)  and  his  successors,  and  all  such  of  our 
loving  subjects  as  now  are  or  hereafter  shall  be  admitted  into 
the  communion  of  aforesaid  Protestant  Church  of  England,  as 
now  established  by  our  laws,  shall  be  from  time  to  time,  and 
forever  hereafter,  a  body  corporate  and  politique,  m  fact  and 
namCj  by  the  name  of  the  Rector  and  inhabitants  of  our  said  city  of 
JVew-Yorkj  in  communion  of  our  Protestant  Church  of  England.^  as 
now  established  by  our  lawsP 

It  is  further  declared  that  for  managing  the  affairs  and  busi- 
ness of  the  corporation,  there  shall  be  annually  elected  two 
church  wardens  and  twenty  vestrymen,  "  by  the  majority  of  votes 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  parish  in  communion,  as  aforesaid?"^ 
The  said  grant  is  recorded  in  the  Secretary's  office,  in  book  of  pa- 
tents, No.  7,  page  82,  &c.,  to  which  the  committee  refer,  and  make 
part  of  their  report.  In  1704,  the  Colonial  Legislatui'e  confirmed 
the  grant  ol  1697,  by  an  act  entitled  "  An  act  for  granting  sun- 
dry privileges  and  powers  to  the  Rector  and  inhabitants  of  the 
city  of  New-York,  of  the  communion  of  the  Church  of  England? 
as  by  law  established."  In  the  first  section  of  the  act,  it  is  de- 
clared that  "  the  Rector,  &c.,"  "  and  their  successors  "  be  able  to 
sue,  &c.,  (here  enumerating  the  powers  of  the  corporation,)  and 
by  section  6  of  said  act,  it  is  enacted  "  That  it  shall  and  may  be 
lawful  for  the  inhabitants  aforesaid  to  assemble  and  meet  together 
on  Tuesday,  in  Easter  week,  annually,  at  the  said  church,  to 
choose  two  church  wardens  and  twenty  vestrymen,  communicants 
of  the  said  church,  to  serve  and  officiate  for  the  next  ensuing 
year,  by  the  majority  of  the  voice  of  the  said  communicants  so 
met,  and  not  otherwise"  In  1705,  Queen  Anne,  after  reciting 
the  act  of  1701,  that  the  Rector  and  inhabitants  of  the  said  city 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


133 


of  New-York,  in  communion  of  the  church  of  England,  as  by  law 
established,  had  petitioned  for  a  grant  of  the  land  known  as  the 
Queen's  farm,  unto  them  and  their  successors,  for  the  use  of  said 
church,  makes  a  grant  in  these  words  :  "  We  have  given,  granted, 
ratified  and  conlBlrmed,  in  and  by  these  presents,  for  ourself,  our 
heirs,  and  successors,  we  do  give,  grant,  ratify  and  confirm,  unto 
the  said  rector  and  inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New-York,  in  com- 
munion of  the  church  of  England,  as  by  law  established,  and  their 
successors,  all  and  singular,  the  said  farm,  &c.,"  "to  have  and  to 
hold  said  farm  unto  the  said  Rector  and  inhabitants  of  the  city  of 
New-York,  in  communion  with  the  church  of  England,  as  by  law 
established,  and  their  successors  forever."  The  committee  refer 
to  said  grant,  recorded  in  Secretary's  office  in  Book  of  Patents, 
No.  7,  page  338,  &c-  No  further  legislation  was  had  until  after 
the  revolution,  in  relation  to  this  corporation,  and  until  the  act 
of  1784  was  passed,  entitled  "An  act  for  making  such  alterations 
in  the  charter  of  the  corporation  of  Trinity  Church  as  to  render 
it  more  conformable  to  the  Constitution  of  the  State."  No  mate- 
rial alterations  were  made  in  the  act  of  1784  affecting  the  origi- 
nal powers  granted  to  the  corporation.  By  section  three  of  s;;id 
act,  it  is  enacted  "  that  all  persons  professing  themselves  members 
of  the  Episcopal  Churchy  who  shall  either  hold,  occupy  or  enjoy, 
a  pew  or  seat  in  the  said  church,  and  shall  regularly  pay  to  the 
support  of  the  said  church,  and  such  others  as  shall  in  the  said 
church  partake  of  the  Holy  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  at 
least  once  in  every  year,  being  inhabitants  of  the  city  and  county 
of  New- York,  shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  rights,"  &c.  The  said 
section  is  preceded  by  the  following :  "  Whereas,  doubts  have 
arisen  on  those  parts  of  the  said  charter  and  law  first  above  men- 
tioned, which  speak  of  inhabitants  in  communion  of  the  said  church 
of  England — for  removal  whereof:  §  3.  Be  it  further  enacted,  &c." 

In  1788  the  corporate  name  was  so  altered  as  to  change  the 
title  to  "  the  Rector  and  inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New-York  in 
communion  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  in  the  State  of 
New-York." 


134 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


The  next  legislation  was  the  act  of  1814,  by  which  the  title 
was  altered  to  "  the  Rector,  Church-wardens  and  Vestrymen  ol 
Trinity  Church,  in  the  city  of  New- York;"  and  by  section  two 
it  i*5  enacted  "  that  all  male  persons  of  full  age,  who,  for  the 
space  of  one  year  preceding  any  election,  shaft  have  been  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation  of  Trinity  Church  aforesaid,  or  of  any 
of  the  chapels  belonging  to  the  same,  and  forming  part  of  the 
same  religious  corporation ,  and  who  shall  hold,  occupy  or  en- 
joy a  pew  or  seat  in  Trinity  Church,  or  in  any  of  the  said  chapels, 
or  have  partaken  of  the  holy  communion  therein  within  the  said 
year;  and  no  other  person  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  at  the  annu- 
al elections  for  the  church-wardens  and  vestrymen  of  the  said 
corporation.^^ 

The  complaint  made  is  against  the  provisions  ot  this  section, 
that  it  excludes  from  the  corporators  a  large  body  of  Episco- 
palians, inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New-York  in  communion  with 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  who  are  beneficiaries  under 
the  original  grant  of  1697,  and  that  by  reason  of  cutting  off  the 
right  granted  to  them  in  the  original  charter,  the  act  of  1814,  is 
void. 

The  committee  have  come  to  the  following  conclusions  as  to 
the  effect  of  the  law  of  1814,  and  the  rights  of  corporators  un- 
der the  several  grants  and  acts  passed  in  relation  to  the  said  cor- 
poration. 

1st.  That  from  16^7  down  to  1814  all  persons  in  communion 
with  the  Church  of  England,  or  the  Episcopal  Church,  being 
inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New-York,  were  corporators  and  enti 
tied  to  vote  for  wardens  and  vestrymen  ^  and  under  the  act  of  1784, 
pew  holders  were  entitled  to  the  same  right  until  1814. 

2.  That  the  act  of  1814  excludes  all  such  persons  unless  they 
are  communicants  or  pew  holders  in  the  Church  and  Chapels  of 
Trinity. 

3d.  That  the  Episcopalians  at  large  in  the  city  of  New- York 
had  pre-existing  rights  in  the  property  and  franchises  of  the  cor- 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


135 


poration.  under  the  grants  and  acts  previous  to  1814;  and  the  act 
of  1814  which  assumed  to  divest  those  rights  without  their  con- 
sent was  unjust  and  unconstitutional. 

4th.  That  the  Cljurch  and  cemetery  were  by  the  original  grant 
declared  to  be  dedicated  "to  the  use  and  behalf"  of  the  persons 
claiming  to  have  been  disfranchised  under  the  act  of  1814,  and 
to  the  extent  of  the  Church  and  church  yard,  all  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  city  in  communion  &c.,  were  by  the  terms  of  the 
grant  itself  corporators  and  beneficiaries. 

5th.  The  property  granted  to  the  Church  by  Queen  Anne,  is 
given  to  the  "Rector  and  inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New-York  in 
communion  with  the  Church  of  England,"  and  is  held  by  the 
corporation  to  the  same  use  as  the  Church  and  Church-yard 
under  the  original  grant.  Especially  is  this  so  when  taken  in 
connection  with  the  act  of  1784  which  declared  that  all  persons 
members  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  either  as  pew  holders,  con- 
tributors or  communicants  being  inhabitants  &c.,  are  entitled  to 
all  the  rights,  privileges,  benefits  and  emoluments,  which  in  and 
by  the  charter  and  law  of  1704  are  designed  to  he  secured  to  the 
inhabitants  of  the  city  of  JYew-York^  in  communion  of  the  Church 
of  England. 

It  is  contended  by  the  counsel  for  Trinity  Church  that  the 
Legislature  have  no  power  to  repeal  the  act  of  1814.  We  think 
there  is  no  question  as  to  the  power  existing  in  the  Legislature 
to  repeal.  The  principle  is  undoubtedly  well  settled  that  where 
a  law  is  in  the  nature  of  a  contract^  and  when  absolute  rights 
have  become  vested  under  that  contract,  a  repeal  of  the  law  can- 
not divest  those  rights,  and  a  sovereign  state  has  no  power  to  pro- 
nounce its  acts  so  far  invalid  as  to  affigct  a  right  of  property  or 
its  enjoyment  whicli  has  become  vested.  Tliis  would  be  repug- 
nant to  the  Constitution.  But  inasmuch  as  your  committte  have 
come  to  the  conclusion  to  introduce  a  bill  to  amend  the  act  and 
not  to  provide  for  its  repeal  this  question  does  not  properly  arise. 
By  the  proposed  amendment  the  right  of  the  corporation,  its 
powers  and  franchises  are  not  to  be  disturbed ;  the  corporators  made  • 
su3h  by  the  act  of  1814  are  still  to  be  left  corporators.  The 


136 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


amendment  proposed  would  restore  the  corporators  who  were 
disfranchised  by4he  act  of  1814,  and  thus  enlarge  the  number 
of  corporators.  The  principles  laid  down  in  the  Dartmouth 
college  case  were  completely  overrode  by  the  act  of  1814.  That 
act  subverted  vested  rights.  The  2d  section  of  the  act  of  1814 
gave  no  new  powers  or  franchises.  Nothing  in  the  section 
which  it  is  proposed  to  repeal  has  any  of  the  qualities  of  a  con- 
tract. By  restoring  the  rights  of  those  who  were  corporators 
under  the  charter,  the  original  grant  will  be  upheld,  the  Consti- 
tution acknowleged,  and  no  injustice  done  to  the  corporators  of 
the  church  who  existed  previous  or  subsequent  . to  the  act  of  1814. 
By  denying  the  right  of  the  corporators  made  such  under  the 
original  grant,  the  grant  is  defeated,  the  Constitution  violated, 
and  the  rights  of  the  corporators  utterly  destroyed.  The  objection 
which  is  raised  to  the  proposition  to  allow  "all  the  inhabitants  in 
communion,  &c.,"  to  vote  for  vestrymen,  for  the  reason  that  it  may 
create  tumult  or  confusion,is  one  of  little  weight,  compared  with  a 
right  vested  under  ancient  grants  and  acts.  It  may  become  an 
unwieldy  corporation,  but  in  looking  at  the  right  of  the  benefici- 
aries we  can  hardly  be  called  upon  to  take  into  account  the 
diflS.culties  which  may  attend  the  annual  elections.  Nor  can  we 
see  that  any  such  difficulties  are  likely  to  arise. 

It  appears  from  the  testimony,  that  the  present  condition  of  the 
Parish  is  one  full  of  spiritual  life  and  activity.  Additions  have 
been  made  to  the  nimiber  of  the  clergy  ;  they  have  been  assigned 
to  specific  fields  of  duty  ;  Sunday  schools,  parochial  schools,  in- 
dustrial schools  have  been  started;  systematic  lay  visiting,  among 
emigrants  and  the  poor  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  her  church 
and  chapels,  has  been  provided  for  ;  and  great  additions  to  her 
congregations  have  resulted  already,  these  labors  being  mainly 
among  the  poor  below  Canal-street.  All  this  good  work  appears 
have  been  done  since  the  resolutions  of  inquiry  passed  the  Senate, 
on  the  13th  of  April,  1855.  Resolutions  had  indeed  been  intro- 
duced into  the  vestry  by  Mr.  Dix,  in  May,  1854,  in  favor  of  such 
a  change,  but  they  were  not  acted  on.  A  committee  of  the 
Vestry  also  appears  to  have  been  appointed  in  the  autumn  of 
1854,  on  the  same,  subject,  but  no  result  seems  to  have  fol- 
lowed. The  first  actual  step  was  taken  June  11,  1855,  and 
all  the  rest  has  been  accomplished  since  then.  Your  committee 
do  not  assert,  liowever,  that  this  great  and  happy  change  is  due, 
in  any  degree,  to  the  action  of  the.  Senate;  for  the  Rector  declares 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


137 


emphatically  that  "neither  the  fear  nor  the  favor  of  man  had  any. 
thing  to  do  with  it." 

The  substance  of  the  rector's  pamphlet  entitled  "  Facts  against 
Fancy ^'^  and  also  of  his  Rejjort  to  the  Vestry,  will  be  found  copi- 
ously embodied  in  the  evidence,  with  additions  bringing  the 
account  up  to  the  present  day.  It  appears,  that  in  all  from  the 
beginning,  201  churches  in  this  State  have  been  aided,  more  or 
less,  by  Trinity  Church.  Of  these  41  are  in  the  city  of  New- York, 
89  in  the  rest  of  the  diocese,  and  71  in  western  New-York.  The 
Rector,  after  a  careful  examination  of  the  books,  states  the  whole 
amount  of  money  grants,  since  1814,  to  be  $998,705.60,  which 
does  not  differ  materially  from  the  sum  stated  in  the  late  Report 
of  this  committee.  The  additional  items  include  several  monu- 
ments erected  for  patriotic  purposes. 

The  Rector's  testimony  mentions  that  tw^o  churches  have  been 
"endowed"  within  a  few  years — the  Annunciation  with  $25,000, 
and  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer,  at  Yorkville, .  with  $9,000. 
These  ^^endowments''  w^ere  omitted  from  the  Report  of  the  Vestry, 
and  are  therefore  new  to  your  committee.  In  that  Report^  how- 
ever, the  sum  ot  $26,800  is  set  down  as  paid  to  the  Church  of  the 
Annunciation  "for  its  support,'-^ — the  same  phrase  which  describes 
the  ordinary  grants  and  stipends  to  other  churches.  And  in 
Facts  against  Fancy  the  sum  of  $9,000  appears  in  connection  with 
the  Church  of  the  Redeemer,  Yorkville;  not  as  an  "endowment," 
but  as  the  amount  to  which  that  church  is  mortgaged  to  other 
parties,  and.  of  which  mortgages  Trinity  has  undertaken  to  pay 
the  interest.  The  omission  therefore  to  mention  these  two  cases 
as  "endowments,"  appears  to  be  the  more  correct. 

The  torpor  that  was  supposed  to  affect  so  largely  the  parish 
and  the  administration  of  the  vestry,  is  strongly  denied.  The 
falling  off"  in  contributions  from  the  congregations  is  attributed 
wholly  to  the  changes  of  the  city,  which  have  left  few  of  any 
"wealth  or  condition"  yet  connected  with  Trinity  Church  or  her 
chapels.  The  small  number  of  voters  at  elections  is  regarded  as 
proof  of  the  high  satisfaction  of  the  corporators  with  the  doings 
of  the  vestry,  rather  than  as  an  evidence  of  torpor.  In  the  Ves- 
try itself,  the  supposed  monopoly  of  knowledge  and  power  by  the 
standing  committee  is  declared  not  to  exist.  The  Rector  testi- 
fies that  the  reports  made  by  that  committee  are  overruled  by  the 
Vestry,  "scores  of  times;"  or  as  Mr.  Verplanck  more  quietly  ex- 
presses it,  this  reversal  takes  place  "  sometimes  and  in  unimpor- 


138 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


tant  matters."  Mr.  Dix  could  not  tell  whether  the  estate  of 
Trinity  Church  is  now  of  much  greater  value  than  at  any  other 
period  ;  giving  as  the  reason  of  his  inability,  that  he  '  4  s  not  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Finance  Committee,"  which  is  merely  the  same  Stand- 
ing Committee  acting  under  another  name.  Tht' annual  statement 
of  the  affairs  of  the  corporators,  it  is  testified,  is  not  printed;  and 
no  report  whatever  is  made  at  any  time  to  the  corporators.  The 
Rector  is  the  only  one  of  the  nine  clergymen  of  the  parish,  who 
has  a  seat  in  the  vestry. 

The  charge  of  partizanship  in  making  grants,  is  repudiated  in 
very  decisive  and  indignant  terms.  It  is  due  to  the  Rector  to 
place  prominently  in  this  report  his  protestation  in  regard  to  this 
charge.  He  says  :  "  As  a  christian  man  and  a  christian  minister, 
I  declare  that  I  have  never  heard  one  which  appears  to  be  more 
unfounded  and  unjust.  I  have  never  heard  a  syllable  from  any 
member  of  that  body,  in  any  application  before  them,  which  would 
warrant  the  charge.'' 

Mr.  Dix  strongly  denies  that  party  divisions  have  ever  been 
alluded  to  in  connection  with  applications  for  aid  ;  and  adds,  that 
he  cannot  be  deceived  in  thus  estimating  the  principles  of  action 
in  the  vestry,  except  "  upon  the  hypothesis  of  a  depth  of  dissim- 
ulation on  their   part,  and  an  obtuseness  of  perception  on 
his  own,  too  gross  for  the  largest  credulity.''    Mr.  Skidmore 
would  resign  his  place  as  a  member  of  the  standing  committee  if 
he  thought  an  application,  otherwise  meritorious,  should  be  re- 
jected on  the  ground  of  its  being  "  low  Church."    Mr.  Moore, 
however,  admits,  somewhat  of  personal  partiality  in  the  making 
or  withholding  of  grants,  as  being  inseparable  from  human  nature. 
On  examining  the  records  of  votes  in  the  diocesan  convention  for 
a  series  of  years,  it  appears  from  Dr.  Haight's  evidence,  that  of 
the  sixty-six  Churches  mortgaged  to  Trinity,  eight  have  at  one 
time  or  other  voted  against  her,  and  that  of  the  130  aided  by  her 
at  one  time  or  another,  not  so  many  as  30  are  on  the  record  as  op- 
posing her  in  the  diocesan  convention.    It  is  testified,  also,  that 
stipends  have  been  taken  away  from  low  Church  parishes,  on  the 
ground  that  they  were  wealthy  enough  to  need  them  no  longer. 
In  connection  with  this  charge  of  partisanship,  no  explanation  is 
given  of  the  extraordinary  disproportion  of  the  grant  to  the  Church 
of  the  Annunciation ;  nor  of  the  great  difference  between  the 
treatment  of  St.  Luke's  and  St.  Matthew's.    Both  of  these  last  are 
testified  to  have  been  poor,  unable  to  do  without  assistance,  and 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH.  139 

to  be  surrounded  by  the  property  of  the  corporation  ;  yet  one  is 
kept  up  by  large  grants  amounting  at  present  to  $2,200  a  year, 
and  in  the  other  case  property  worth  $15^000,  with  an  incum- 
brance of  only  $1,300  is  sacrificed  without  any  grant,  when  balf 
the  amount  given  to  St.  Luke's  would  have  been  enough  to  sup- 
ply all  that  was  needed. 

Among  all  the  stipends  now  and  of  late  years  granted,  the  only 
one  that  is  stated  in  the  evidence,  to  be  given  to  a  low  Church 
clergyman,  amounts  to  $300  a  year. 

Repeated  efforts  are  made  to  do  away  with  the  idea,  that "  Trin- 
ity church  has  never,  at  any  time,  established  or  endowed  any 
institution  of  charity  or  benevolence,  even  for  her  own  poor." 
In  this  connection,  the  endowment  of  Columbia  College  a  cen- 
tury ago,  the  endowment  of  the  society  for  the  promotion  of  re- 
ligion and  learning,  and  also  of  Trinity  school,  both  before  1814, 
and  the  grant  to  Hobart  Free  College  of  $50,000,  not  many  years 
since,  are  chiefly  relied  upon;  although,  from  the  fact  that  men- 
tion was  made  of  institutions  of  "  learning "  as  distinct  from 
those  of  "  charity  or  benevolence,"  it  w^as  manifest  that  educa- 
tional institutions  were  not  referred  to.  The  grants  to  African 
and  diocesan  missions,  can  hardly  be  regarded  as  belonging  to 
this  department  of  operations.  Nothing  else  is  mentioned,  how^- 
ever,  as  having  been  done  previous  to  the  resolutions  of  enquiry 
in  1855.  Since  then,  mention  is  made,  in  this  connection,  of  the 
industrial  and  parish  schools,  the  lay  agents  in  visiting,  the  free 
burials  in  the  cemetery,  the  collections  in  the  churches,  and  the 
communion  alms,  as  well  as  the  Ladies'  Dorcas  sewing  society 
for  the  poor  :  all  very  excellent  in  their  way.  But  to  speak  of 
these  as  proving  that  Trinity  Church  has  established  or  endow- 
ed institutions  of  charity  or  benevolence,"  is  using  language  in  a 
sense  somewhat  remote  from  its  ordinary  meaning.  What  seems 
nearer  to  the  point,  is  the  manner  in  which  the  lands  now  held 
by  St,  Luke's  Hospital  were  obtained. 

A  claim  upon  land  at  the  foot  of  Duane  street,  which  the  city 
corporation  sold  to  the  Erie  R.  R.  Company,  was  released  by 
Trinity  in  consideration  of  lots  high  up  the  Fifth  Avenue,  given 
to  St.  George  the  Martyr,  for  a  hospital.    St.  George  the  Martyr 


140 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


being  unable  to  build  within  the  time  specified,  the  land  was 
passed  over  to  St.  Luke's  Hospital,  as  the  only  available  means 
of  preventing  its  total  loss  to  the  Church  by  lapsing  back  to  the 
citf.  This  has  never  appeared  in  any  published  lists  of  grants 
made  by  the  Vestry,  the  title  of  the  lands  proceeding  directly 
from  the  city;  but  it  is  claimed,  and  justly,  as  being  virtually 
derived  from  the  corporation  of  Trinity  Church. 

It  will  appear,  from  a  careful  examination  of  the  mass  of  evi- 
dence presented  by  Trinity  Church,  that  every  point  of  impor- 
tance set  forth  in  the  previous  report  of  your  committee,  is  here 
abundantly  corroborated. 

Additional  evidence  proves  the  difficulty  in  obtaining  a  copy 
of  the  list  of  corporators,  only  one  copy  appearing  to  have  been 
ever  given,  and  that  not  until  after  a  formal  vote  of  the  Vestry. 
The  list  is  stated  to  be  inaccurate  also,  Mr.  Verplanck  believing 
that  "  many"  names  are  omitted  from  the  list  of  persons  entitled 
to  be  entered. 

No  contradiction  is  offered  to  the  statement  in  your  Com- 
mittee's report  as  to  the  singular  pew-leases  first  given  at  Trinity 
Chapel.  The  explanation  is,  in  substance,  that  it  was  a  measure 
of  over  prudence,  adopted  in  order  to  prevent  the  intrusion  of 
pew  holders  who  had  no  sympathy"  with  the  Vestry.  The 
measure  was  condemned  at  the  time  by  some  of  the  Vestry  them- 
selves, and  is  defended  now  by  none. 

It  is  testified  that  both  before  and  after  1814,  the  claim  has 
been  made  by  one  or  more  members  of  the  other  city  congrega- 
tions, of  the  right  under  the  charter,  to  vote  at  the  annual  elec- 
tion of  wardens  and  vestrymen ;  but  that  the  parties  so  claiming 
have  not  at  any  time  commenced  an  action  at  law  for  the  en- 
forcement of  their  claim.  A  copy  of  the  resolution  passed  by 
the  Vestry  in  1812,  is  included  in  the  evidence  of  Mr.  Dix,  from 
which  it  appears  that  the  Vestry  excluded  all  the  members  of 
the  other  parishes,  of  their  own  motion,  first;  and  then  applied 
to  the  Legislature  for  the  legal  power  to  do  so,  afterwards. 

Instead  of  showing  that  the  policy  of  the  corporation  has  been 
unvarying,"  as  the  Vestry  at  first  reported,  the  evidence  proves 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


141 


that  the  policy  has  been  changed;  that  the  era  of  change  was,  as 
asserted  by  your  Committeej  the  year  1814;  and  that  this  change 
is  now  openly  avowed  and  defended  as  being  wise  and  beneficial. 
But  more  of  this  hereafter.  * 

Much  stress  is  laid  upon  the  debt,  as  a  restraint  upon  the 
liberal  desires  of  the  corporation,  this  debt  being  now — after  de- 
ducting productive  mortgages — somewhat  less  than  half  a  mil- 
lion ot  dollars.  This  debt  is  pleaded  as  causing  the  inability  to 
accept  the  noble  proposition  referred  to  in  the  report  of  your 
committee,  as  well  as  incapacitating  them  to  grant  many  other 
applications.  The  increase  of  the  debt  during  the  past  ten  years 
does  not  appear  to  be  so  much  as  the  cost  of  the  new  chapel,  a 
building,  however,  which  seems  to  have  proved  much  more  ex- 
pensive than  was  originally  intended.  The  whole  present 
amount  of  the  debt,  after  deducting  the  productive  mortgages,  is 
more  than  equaled  by  the  cost  of  the  parish  church  and  the 
new  chapel  united.  During  the  past  ten  years,  the  aggregate  of 
annual  deficits  is  set  down  as  $273,597.25;  the  grants  during 
the  same  time  amounting  to  $288,141.05. 

The  deficits  have  been  met  by  sales  of  real  estate.  The 
charge  of  accumulation  is  denied  on  the  ground  that  accumula- 
tion means  the  reinvesting  a  portion  of  income  as  an  addition  to 
the  principal — a  sense  in  which  it  does  not  appear  that  the 
charge  was  made.  The  parochial  expenses,  it  is  testified,  cannot 
be  diminished,  and  rather  need  to  be  increased.  The  salaries 
of  the  clergy  are  not  extravagant,  being  exceeded  by  those  of 
St.  George's,  Calvary  and  Grace  churches. 

But  notwithstanding  all  these  deficits,  this  growing  debt'' 
and  consequent  "  inability,"  there  is  a  unanimous  agreement 
among  the  witnesses  that  the  gross  value  of  the  estate  has  been 
steadily  rising,  and  is  higher  now  than  ever  before.  No  attempt 
whatever  is  made  to  show  that  the  valuation  of  the  church  estate 
as  embodied  in  the  report  of  your  Committee,  is  too  high.  The 
only  reduction  claimed  on  the  total  of  the  productive  estate  is 
in  the  matter  of  the  allowance  to  be  made  on  account  of  leases 
yet  to  run. 

But  the  committee  deem  it  unnecessary  to  go  into  any  calcu- 
lations of  the  value  of  leases  or  of  other  deductions,  the 


142 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


resolutions  of  the  Senate,  called  upon  the  Church  to  state  the 
estimated  value  of  its  real  estate  "irrespective  of  the  leases" — 
this  not  having  been  done,  the  committee  have  endeavored  to 
supply  the  omission,  by  taking  the  valuation  of  competent  ap- 
praisers as  stated  in  their  former  report  at  $6,087,050;  and 
adding  to  this  |400,000,  the  price  placed  upon  the  St.  John's 
Park  property,  making  together,  |6,487,050.  This  is  exclusive 
of  personal  property,  of  which  the  Church  reports  a  large 
amount,  but  which  was  not  called  for  by  the  Senate,  nor  was 
the  Church  called  upon  to  report  the  amount  of  their  indebted- 
ness, which  appears  to  be  very  inconsiderable,  after  deducting 
the  "productive  mortgages"  held  by  the  corporation,  and  taking 
into  view  the  value  of  its  property,  much  of  which  can  be  con- 
verted into  money  at  very  short  notice.  As  to  the  gross  valua- 
tion here  stated,  the  committee  do  not  understand  the  Church  to 
deny  its  correctness. 

The  striking  discrepancies  as  to  the  value  of  certain  lots  in  the 
report  of  the  corporation,  compared  with  the  actual  prices  at 
sale  or  on  reletting,  are  excused  as  having  been  left  uncorrected 
"by  inadvertence;"  the  report  being  several  months  in  course 
of  preparation.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  excuse  is  true.  But 
if  the  whole  report  was  to  be  based  on  the  assessors'  estimates,  it 
does  not  appear  upon  what  principle  a  correction  could  have 
been  made  in  those  few  cases,  without  betraying  the  striking 
difference  between  the  two  modes  of  calculation. 

The  Church  mortgages  are  strongly  stated,  by  all  the  witnesses 
who  speak  of  them,  to  be  taken  only  "to  secure  to  the  permanent 
use  ot  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  the  United  States,  the 
Church  buildings  and  property  upon  the  security  of  which"  the 
loans  were  obtained  from  Trinity  Church.  It  is  denied  that  they  are 
regarded  as  properly  a  debt  at  all,  though  it  is  in  evidence  that 
they  were  reported  as  such  in  1854.  The  loans  thus  made  are 
looked  upon  as  absolute  grants.  Yet  it  is  testified  that  in  two 
cases,  those  of  the  City  Mission  Society  and  St.  Peter's  Church, 
the  loans,  at  first  made  were  purely  "business  transactions,"  and 
"in  no  sense  a  gift."    In  the  ease  of  St.  Peter's,  too,  the  repay- 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


143 


ment  of  the  loan  was  at  first  guarranteed  by  the  personal  bonds  of 
the  members  of  that  parish;  these  being  afterwards  surrendered, 
however,  the  mortgage  then  took  the  ordinary  form.  No  expla- 
nation is  given  of  the  fact  that  the  mortgages  held  by  Triifity 
over  the  old  Zion  Church,  and  the  old  Christ  Church,  did  not 
"secure  to  the  permanent  use  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church" 
those  buildings  and  property.  They  were  sold,  one  to  the 
Romanists  and  the  other  to  secular  uses.  Trinity  remitting  the 
interest,  but  taking  a  new  mortgage  on  the  new  churches  up 
town,  as  being  equally  good  security.  It  is  clear  that  there  is 
legal  power  to  foreclose  all  these  mortgages,  but  it  is  equally 
clear  that  it  could  not  be  done  without  a  violation  of  good  faith; 
and,  as  Mr.  Moore  expresses  it,  if  the  Church  were  to  foreclose 
one  of  then  I,  "such  a  clamor  would  be  raised,  that  they  would 
never  hear  the  last  of  it." 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  comptroller  testified  $400,000, 
to  be  the  sum  fixed  by  the  corporation,  after  much  discussion, 
as  that  for  which  they  would  sell  their  interest  in  St.  John's 
square.  Mr.  Dix  testifies,  that  he  looks  upon  this  sum  not  as 
representing  the  value  of  the  interest  of  the  corporation  in  that 
property,  but  as  "  the  measure  of  damage  that  would  be  done  to 
Trinity  Church  by  destroying  the  park."  Mr.  Skidmore,  a 
member  of  the  standing  committee,  testifies  that  the  value  of  the 
corporation  interest  in  the  park  is  not  more  than  $75,000.  The 
enormous  discrepancy  is  beyond  the  power  of  your  committee  to 
explain. 

Leasehold  property  in  certain  quarters  of  the  city  is  shown  to 
be  capable  of  the  highest  class  of  improvements. 

It  is  testified  by  members  of  the  vestry,  that  they  administer 
their  trust  solely  as  the  representatives  of  Trinity  parish  proper, 
and  as  making  grants  out  of  her  bounty,  and  from  property  which 
is  exclusively  her  own.  They  acknowledge  no  obligation  to  "  the 
inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New- York  in  communion  of  the  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  Church  of  the  State  of  New-York." 

It  is  testified  strongly,  that  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
has  not  kept  pace  with  the  increase  of  population  in  the  city  of 


144  REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


New-York,  and  that  there  is  in  parts  of  that  city  a  want,  and  as 
some  say  a  great  want,  of  more  Episcopal  churches,  especially 
free  churches  for  the  poorer  and  laboring  classes.  Mr.  Dix  tes- 
tifies to  the  existence  of  a  population  of  120,000,  below  Canal 
street,  to  meet  which  Trinity  has  only  four  churches.  The  des- 
titution in  other  parts  of  the  city  is  shown  to  be  still  more  press- 
ing. It  is  admitted  that  Trinity  has,  in  fact,  never  at  any  time 
built  a  free  church.  But  it  is  contended  that  she  has  done  so  in 
effect,  by  contributing  almost  as  much  money  as  the  erection  of 
such  a  church  required,  or  by  keeping  up  as  free  churches, 
buildings  which  she  might  have  sold  or  removed  with  better 
prospects  of  self-support. 

The  effectiveness  of  the  mode  in  which  Trinity  has  aided  other 
free  churches,  may  be  best  seen  by  examining  their  condition, 
as  showed  by  her  own  clergy.  Dr.  Haight  gives  a  list  of  all 
in  the  city,  amounting  to  nineteen;  of  which  lour  are  sus- 
pended (three  of  them  being  fairly  dead;)  two  are  worship- 
ping in  halls,  having  no  buildings  of  their  own;  and  thir- 
teen have  church  buildings,  averaging  only  450  to  500  sit- 
tings, each;  an  amount  of  accommodation  insufficient  for  suc- 
cess on  the  free  church  plan.  The  rest  are  generally  in  so  fee- 
ble a  state,  that,  as  Dr.  Berrian  testifies,  if  the  stipend  of  Trinity 
were  withdrawn,  "  the  most  of  them  would  '  languish,'  and  the 
rest  would  in  a  short  time  absolutely  perish." 

Great  credit  is  claimed  for  the  degree  in  which  Trinity  Church 
and  St.  Paul's  and  St.  John's  chapels  may  be  regarded  as  free 
churches.  But  here,  too,  there  seems  to  be  a  discrepancy  in  the 
testimony,  not  easily  to  be  reconciled. 

The  report  of  the  corporation  to  the  Senate  in  February,  1856, 
claims  only  1,065  free  sittings  as  the  whole  number  in  the  four 
churches  of  the  parish,  including  the  seats  in  the  aisles.  Dr. 
Berrian  testifies  that  there  are  now  1,200  to  1,300, — not  a  very 
great  difference.  Trinity  Church  is  said  in  the  report  to  have 
only  56  free  pews,  or  280  sittings.  Yet  Mr.  Dix  testifies,  that 
"  much  the  greater  part  of  the  pews  in  Trinity  "  are  free,  that 
Church  being  able  to  seat  over  1,000  persons.  Mr.  Verplanck 
also  testifies,  that  the  pew  rents  in  Trinity  Church  amount  only 
to  $157  a  year,  which  is  very  small  if  only  56  of  the  pews  are 
free.    Again,  the  report  of  1856  claims  only  39  free  pews  for  St. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


145 


Paul's,  while  Mr.  Dix  testifies,  that  of  its  144  pews  104  are  free; 
and  Mr,  Verplanck  states  its  annual  pew  rental  to  be  only  §280. 
These  discrepancies  are  not  easy  to  explain,  but  it  is  evident 
that  those  churches,  with  St.  John's  chapel,  are  rapidly  becom- 
ing more  and  more  free.  '  This,  it  is  testified,  is  owing  to  the 
fact  that  the  classes  of  persons  able  to  rent  pews  are  rapidly 
leaving  those  parts  of  the  city,  so  that  the  vestry  could  not  rent 
the  pews  even  if  they  would.  The  only  alternative,  therefore,  is 
to  make  the  seats  free,  or  else  tear  the  churches  down  and  re- 
move them  to  the  upper  portions  of  the  city,  which  Trinity  has 
never  contemplated  doing.  Were  all  these  churches  wholly  free, 
however,  they  w^ould  still  be  very  far  from  enough  to  supply  the 
great  need  of  that  portion  of  the  city,  to  say  nothing  of  other  por- 
tions yet  more  destitute.  And  this  work,  as  Mr.  Dix  testifies,  is 
so  peculiarly  the  duty  of  Trinity,  that  if  she  does  not  perform  it, 
nothing  will  be  done  at  all. 

Although  it  IS  testified  that  no  new  churclies  have  been  built 
up,  set  off  and  endow^ed  with  competent  estates  since  1814,  that 
the  corporators  have  never  since  then  been  divided,  that  the 
policy  of  landed  endowment  has  been  abandoned,  and  that  the 
estate  of  Trinity  Church,  instead  of  being  broken  down,  is  now 
more  valuable  than  ever  before;  yet  no  direct  attempt  is  made  to 
disavow  or  disclaim  the  representations  urged  by  Col.  Troup,  in 
order  to  obtain  the  law  of  1814.  On  the  contrary,  it  is  testified 
by  Dr,  Berriaa,  that  Col.  Troup  was  one  of  the  vestry  of  Trinity 
at  the  time,  and  was  also  one  of  a  "  committee,  appointed  by  the 
vestry,  with  full  power  to  make  application^'  for  that  law  to  the 
Legislature.  This,  of  itself,  clothes  his  representations  w4th  a 
degree  of  authority  which  cannot  be  impaired  by  inference  or 
inuendo  merely.  And  this  position  of  authorized  agency  ex- 
plains the  reason  why  he,  rather  than  any  other  person,  was 
"  asked  for  his  reasons  in  support  of  the  bill." 

Another  consideration  is  important  on  this  subject.  The  law 
of  1814  embodies  the  requests  of  the  vestry  itself,  as  contained 
in  its  petition,  made  at  the  time.  The  only  three  things  they 
ask  for,  are  the  alteration  of  the  title  of  the  corporation,  the 
exclusion  of  all  outside  of  Trinity  parish  as  corporators,  and  to 
be  relieved  from  the  obligation  of  making  any  inventory  and 
account,  except  after  the  acquisition  of  additional  property. 

10 


146 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


These  three  things  are  all  embodied  in  the  1st,  2d  and  6tb 
sections  of  that  law.  The  Sd,  4th  and  5th  sections,  however, 
i^ontain  provisions  which  Trinity  did  not  ask  for  in  her  petition. 
It  is  known  that  there  was  strong  opposition  to  the  law  in  certain 
quarters,  and  it  is  evident  that  these  additional  sections, — which 
provide  for  dividing  the  corporators,  and  for  building,  setting  off 
»nd  endowing  new  churches  with  competent  estates, — were  in- 
serted as  the  palatable  and  popular  features  to  enable  the  bill  to 
pass.  The  other  provisions  were  for  the  benefit  of  Trinity  only. 
These  were  added,  to  show  that  the  law  would  be  a  benefit  to 
others  also.  It  is  evident,  moreover,  from  the  language  used  by 
Ool.  Troupy  that  when  two  members  of  the  Council  of  Revision 
asked  him  for  his  reasons  in  support  of  the  bill,  they  meant  the 
reasons  which  he  had  previously  urged  in  the  Legislature,  in 
what  he  himself  alludes  to  as  "  his  zealous  exertions  to  procure 
the  passage  of  the  bill  through  the  two  Houses."  This  is  evi- 
dent, too,  from  the  authoritative  manner  in  which  he  declared 
such  and  such  things  to  be  the  "  objects  of  the  bill."  And  no 
other  explanation  of  those  objects,  so  far  as  the  4th  and  5th 
{^actions  are  concerned,  is  known  to  your  committee  to  be  extant. 
To  argue  against  the  authority  of  his  representations,  therefore, 
because  the  date  of  his  pamphlet  is  subsequent  to  the  passage  of 
the  law  through  the  two  Houses,  is  altogether  inconclusive. 
The  change  of  policy,  therefore,  which  took  place  immediately 
after  obtaining  that  law,  and  the  non-fulfilment  of  the  represen- 
tations made  to  secure  its  passage,  cannot  be  relieved  from  the 
construction  placed  upon  them  in  the  previous  report  of  your 
committee. 

Two  points  appear  to  demand  a  change  in  the  existing  law. 
At  present,  there  is  no  practical  responsibility  to  which  the  ves- 
try can  be  held,  as  a  security  for  the  proper  administration  of 
their  vast  estate,  except  by  means  ot  inquiry  through  the  Legis- 
lature. This,  in  its  own  nature,  must  be  irregular,  and  open  to* 
more  or  less  of  delay,  irritation  and  unsatisfactoriness  generally. 
The  courts  of  law  are  too  expensive  and  too  tedious  to  make  it 
worth  while  for  individuals  to  try  their  strength,  in  that  mode,, 
with  a  corporation  worth  millions.  Nor  does  there  appear  to  be 
any  manner  in  which  responsibility  can  be  secured  ecclesiastic> 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


147 


ally,  any  more  than  civilly.  Bisliop  Potter  testifies  that  he  has 
no  power  to  supervise  the  grants  of  the  vestry;  that  his  assent  is 
not  necessary  to  the  validity  of  their  acts;  that  they  make  no 
report  of  their  doings  in  money  matters,  either  to  him  or 
to  the  convention  of  the  diocese;  that  he  is  not  cognizant 
of  the  internal  or  financial  affairs  of  the  corporation;  that 
it  isnot  the  practice  of  the  vestry  to  consult  with  him  in  regard 
to  the  making  of  grants,  and  that  he  does  not  wish  to  be  thus 
consulted;  that  he  has  taken  care  to  have  it  understood  that  he 
can  exert  no  influence  in  behalf  of  applicants;  and  that  he  is 
even  afraid  to  propose  plans  of  his  own  to  Trinity,  because  of 
their  debt.  He  testifies  that  his  power  is  purely  spiritual,  and 
that  it  is  only  in  case  of  charges  of  crime  or  immorality  that 
the  rector  or  any  vestryman  would  be  in  anywise  amenable  to 
him  in  the  way  of  discipline.  The  sole  practical  power  of  re- 
medying any  evil  in  the  vestry,  appears,  therefore,  to  reside  in 
the  corporators,  to  be  exercised  at  the  annual  election.  And 
yet,  even  this  measure  of  responsibility  is  now,  and  has  been  for 
a  long  time,  wholly  neutralized  by  the  fact  that  the  vestry  never 
present  any  report  w^hatever  to  the  corporators,  who,  being  thus 
kept  in  ignorance,  enjoy  a  degree  of  satisfaction  with  the  vestry, 
which  leaves  them  without  any  motive  to  attend  the  polls. 

As  some  real  safeguard  is,  however,  absolutely  necessary  for 
the  wise  and  responsible  administration  of  this  immense  estate, 
your  committee  would  therefore  recommend  that  the  vestry  be 
required  to  furnish  to  all  their  corporators,  in  print,  by  the  1st 
of  February  at  the  latest,  a  full  and  minute  statement  of  the  de- 
tails of  their  income  and  expenditure  during  the  year;  what  lots 
have  been  sold  or  relet,  and  on  what  terms;  what  grants  have 
been  made,  and  to  whom;  what  bonds  and  mortgages  are  held; 
and  what  is  the  estimated  increase  or  diminution  in  the  gross 
value  of  the  estate  of  the  corporation;  and  also,  that  they  be 
required  to  append  thereto  a  complete  and  correct  list  of  all  the 
corporators  ot  the  parish.  This  will  enable  them  to  perform 
their  duty  with  intelligence. 

And  this  will  appear  to  be  the  more  necessary,  when  we  con- 
sider the  extreme  change  that  has  already  taken  place  and  is 


148 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Still  going  on  in  the  three  congregations  of  Trinity  parish,  down 
town.  Dr.  Berrian  testifies  that,  between  1840  and  1848,  no 
less  than  335  families  and  70  individuals  left  the  parish; 
and  the  same  process  has  been  going  on  with  still  greater  rapi- 
dity since.  He  tells  us  that  nearly  all  the  persons  of  wealth 
and  condition,  even  as  high  up  as  St.  John's  Chapel,  have  re- 
moved up  town ;  that  Trinity  Church  is  almost  entirely  occupied 
by  strangers,  and  the  poor,  only  a  very  scanty  remnant  of  its 
former  congregation  remaining;  and  that  the  same  is  true  of  St, 
Paul's,  and  in  some  degree  of  St.  John's. 

Dr.  Haight  describes  the  congregation  at  Trinity  as  made  up  of 
strangers,  young  men,  transient  residents,  and  the  poor.  Dr* 
Vinton  testifies  that  the  congregation  at  St.  Paul's,  is  composed 
mainly  of  strangers,  clerks,  mechanics,  artizans,  porters,  washer- 
women, hucksters,  and  miscellaneous  poor,  making  their  living 
as  daily  laborers.  Dr.  Higbee  says  that  these  removals  have 
"  gradually  and  surely  deprived  Trinity  and  St.  Paul's  of  their 
regular  congregations,  and  parochial  spirit,  responsibility,  and 
efl&ciency  ;"  and  that  they  "  diminish  and  weaken,  in  a  continu- 
ally increasing  ratio,  the  constituency  of  the  corporation,  thus 
destroying  the  equilibrium  of  the  parish,  and  undermining  its 
foundations  as  an  institution  of  public  charity.''  As  an  unavoida- 
ble consequence  of  this  sweeping  change,  both  in  the  number  and 
the  character  of  the  corporators,  it  has  been  found  impossible  to 
"  keep  up  the  standing  of  the  constituency;"  and  Dr.  Berrian  ex- 
cuses the  present  state  of  things  on  the  ground  that  in  former 
times  there  was  "  a  wider  range  than  now  for  the  choice  of  dis- 
tinguished and  intelligent  vestrymen,''  qualified  to  administer  so 
important  a  trust. 

Dr.  Haight,  too,  when  testifying  that  the  vestry  have,  in  his 
opinion,  done  their  best,  adds,  the  important  qualification,  "as 
constituted  for  the  last  quarter  of  a  century."  It  is  also  repre- 
sented that  the  new  chapel  will  preserve  the  parish  from  the 
total  change  which  otherwise  seemed  impending,  but  from 
present  appearances,  the  chapel  will  soon  contain  all  that  are 
left  of  the  grade  of  corporators  which  gave  this  ancient  parish 
its  pre-eminence  in  olden  times;  and  that  a  large  addition  will 
be  made,  indeed,  to  the  number  of  corporators,  from  among 
the  many  communicants  in  the  three  churches  down  town — a 
number  more  than  enough  to  out-vote  the  one  small  congrega- 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


149 


tion  of  the  chapel ;  but  they  will  be  from  classes  of  the  commu- 
nity whose  general  standing  and  intelligence  will  not  qualify 
them  to  exercise  properly  the  control  of  the  ballot  box  over 
the  administration  of  so  vast  and  delicately  complicated  a  trust; 
and  that  it  is  absolutely  necessary,  therefore,  that  the  con- 
stituency should  be  reinforced  from  that  class  to  which  it  origi- 
nally belonged. 

A  repeal  of  the  law  of  1814,  would  effect  this;  but  from  defe- 
rence to  the  opinions  of  the  two  Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal church  in  this  State,  and  others  of  the  witnesses,  who 
anticipate  great  strife  and  confusion  from  a  simple  repeal  of  that 
law  as  a  whole,  your  committee  would  recommend  a  modifica- 
tion of  it  in  only  two  particulars,  leaving  all  the  rest  of  the  law 
to  stand  as  at  present.  The  first  is,  the  amendment  of  the  second 
section,  by  restoring  the  substance  of  the  third  section  of  the  Law 
of  1784.  And  the  second  is  an  additional  section  to  the  present 
law,  providing  for  an  annual  report  to  the  corporators  of  the 
parish. 

In  conclusion,  therefore,  your  committee  ask  leave  to  bring  in 
a  bill,  in  conformity  with  the  recommendations  contained  in  the 
above  report. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

MARK  SPENCER, 
JAMES  NOXON, 
J.  H.  RAMSEY. 


AN  ACT 


To  amend  an  act  entitled  "An  act  to  alter  the  name  of 
the  corporation  of  Trinity  Church,  in  New- York,  and 
for  other  purposes,"  passed  Jan.  25,  1814. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  J^ew-York^  represented  in  Senate  and 
Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows  : 

Section  1.  The  second  section  of  the  act  entitled  "an  act  to 
alter  the  name  of  the  corporation  of  Trinity  Church,  in  New- 
York,  and  for  other  purposes,"  passed  January  25,  1814,  is  here- 
by so  amended  as  to  read  as  follows  : 

§  2.  Every  male  inhabitant  of  the  city  of  New- York  of  full 
age,  in  communion  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  th 
State  of  New- York,  who  shall  hold,  occupy,  or  enjoy  a  pew  or 
seat  in  any  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  said  city,  in  union 
with  the  convention  of  the  diocese  of  New-York,  or  shall  have 
partaken  of  the  Holy  communion  therein,  wi*hin  the  year  next 
preceding  any  election  for  Church  wardens  and  vestrymen,  to 
be  certified  by  the  rector,  senior  warden,  or  clerk  of  the  vestry 
of  such  Church,  shall  be  entitled  to  vote,  at  all  elections  for 
Church  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  this  corporation. 

§  2.  The  said  act  of  January  25, 1814,  ie;  hereby  further  amended 
so  as  to  read  as  follows  : 

§  7.  "  The  vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  shall  once  in  every  year, 
on  the  first  day  of  February,  furnish  to  their  corporators  a  prin- 
ted statement  of  the  affairs  of  the  corporation,  including  the  de- 
tails of  annual  income  and  expenditure,  specifying  what  lots 
have  been  relet  or  sold,  and  for  what  amounts,  and  how  many 
remain;  what  grants,  loans,  or  stipends  have  been  made,  and  to 
whom;  what  bonds  and  mortgages  are  held,  of  every  sort;  with 
the  estimated  change  in  the  gross  value  of  the  corporation  estate, 
if  any;  and  appending  also  the  full  and  correct  list  of  all  the 
corporators  who  will  be  entitled  to  vote  at  the  easter  election 
then  next  ensuing. 

§  3.  This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 


TESTIMONY 


TESTIMOiNY  INTRODUCED  ON  THE  PART  OF  THE  VES- 
TRY. 

Friday,  February  13,  1857. 

Present — Senate  committee — Senators  Spencer,  Noxon,  and 
Earasey.  The  trustees  of  Trinily  Church  were  represented  by- 
Judge  Parker,  and  0.  Meads,  Esq. 

Rev.  Eenjamin  I.  Haight,  called  and  sworn. 

Ques.  What  means  have  you  of  being  acquainted  with  the 
affairs  of  Trinity  Church?  A.  I  have  been  one  of  the  ministers 
of  Trinity  Church  fur  the  last  ten  years,  and  for  nearly  two  years 
last  past  have  been  the  assistant  minister  assigned  to  Trinity 
Church,  and  have  had  more  especial  charge  of  the  parochial 
work  connected  with  that  church.  I  have  lived  in  New-York 
all  my  life,  with  the  exception  of  about  three  years  ;  for  nearly 
twenty-three  years  have  been  exercising  the  functions  of  my 
ministry  in  the  city  of  New-York. 

Q.  It  is  stated  in  the  report  of  the  select  committee,  at  page 
seven,  that  it  appears  in  the  evidence  that  Trinity  Cimrcli  has 
never  at  any  time  established  or  endowed  any  institution  of 
charity  or  benevolence,  even  for  her  own  poor.  Is  tliis  cori  ect? 
A.  I  know  of  several  instilutions  of  charity  or  benevolence  wliich 
have  either  been  established  or  endowed  by  Trinity  Church  for 


152 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


the  poor.  1st.  The  charity  school  originally  opened  in  New- 
York,  in  Trinity  Church,  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  years  ago^ 
and  whicli  has  derived  its  support  mainly,  especially  since  the 
Revolution,  from  Trinity  Church,  and  in  which  a  large  number 
of  poor  children  have  been,  not  only  educated,  but  clothed,  and 
partially  supported.  I  have  been  the  secretary  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  this  school,  now  known  as  the  New-York  Protestant 
Episcopal  Public  School,  for  about  twenty  years  last  past.  Its 
present  available  endowment  has  arisen,  in  large  part,  from 
grants  from  Trinity  Church.  A  portion  of  the  endowment  arose 
from  legacies  of  individuals.  [This  statement  does  not  include 
a  bequest  of  landed  estate  which  has  not  yet  become  at  all  avail- 
able for  the  purposes  of  the  school.]  For  the  last  twenty^years 
there  have  been  constantly  sixty-four  poor  boys  on  the  founda- 
tion, who  have  received  a  superior  education  gratuitously,  been 
provided  with  the  necessary  books,  and  have  received  part  of 
them,  |50  per  year,  and  part  of  them  $30  per  year,  (there  being 
two  departments,)  towards  their  clothing  and  support.  In  the 
appointment  of  scholars,  preference  is  given  to  the  children  of 
deceased  clergymen  and  of  widows.  One  of  the  last  appointments 
made  was  that  of  a  son  of  a  clergyman,  recently  deceased,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  New- York,  who  left  a  wife  and  several  children 
in  dependent  circumstances.  I  mention  this  as  an  illustration 
of  the  mode  in  which  the  charity  is  administered.  Another 
Institution  established  and  endowed  by  Trinity  Church,  is  the 
Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Religion  and  Learning  in  the  State 
of  New- York,  of  which  I  happen  to  have  been  a  trustee  for  a 
number  of  years.  The  income  arising  from  its  endowment  has 
been  expended  in  large  measure,  in  aiding  in  the  support  of  in- 
digent young  men  preparing  for  the  sacred  ministry.  It  also 
contributes  annually  $1,600  to  the  support  of  the  Hobart  Free 
College,  Gerieva,  having,  in  addition  thereto,  made  a  grant  in 
gross  of  $7,000.  I  regard  this  society  as  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant charitable  institutions  we  have  in  the  State.  In  Hobart 
Free  College  the  education  is  gratuitous  entirely,  and  open  to 
all  classes  of  citizens  without  reference  to  religious  opinion. 
Within  the  last  two  years  several  arrangements  have  been  made 
by  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  having  special  reference  to  the 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


153 


education  and  general  welfare  of  the  poor.  About  the  1st  of 
December,  1855,  a  parish  school  was  opened  in  connection  with 
St.  Paul's  chapel  in  which  fifty  poor  children  have  constantly 
been  received  and  taught.  In  connection  with  Trinity  Church, 
of  which  I  have  the  more  especial  charge,  a  number  of  arrange- 
ments for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  have  been  entered  into  within 
the  same  period.  By  Trinity  Church,  I  mean  the  old  parish 
church  in  Broadway.  A  colleague  has  been  assigned  me  to  aid 
in  parochial  duty  with  especial  reference  to  missionary  work 
among  the  poor  In  the  lower  part  of  the  city  below  Fulton  street; 
in  addition  to  which,  two  lay  visitors  are  engaged  among  the 
poor,  through  whose  instrumentality  mainly,  a  large  and 
flourishing  Sunday  school  has  been  created  and  sustained  in 
that  church,  composed  almost  exclusively  of  poor  children;  out 
of  two  hundred  and  twenty  there  may  be  five  who  are  not  poor 
children;  there  has  also  been  established  at  Castle  Garden', 
which  is  within  my  district,  an  agency  having  especial  reference 
to  the  poor  members  of  the  church  of  England  and  Ireland  who 
are  landed  at  that  depot.  I  deemed  it  my  duty  as  the  assistant 
minister,  more  especially  in  charge  of  Trinity  Church,  as  soon 
as  the  Commissioners  of  Emigration  obtained  possession  ot  Castle 
Garden  as  a  receptacle  of  emigrants,  to  make  application  to  them 
for  permission  to  visit  such  emigrants,  as  above  described,  on 
their  landing,  with  a  view  to  their  benefit.  Permission  was 
granted  by  the  Commissioners,  and  on  my  application,  through 
the  rector,  to  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  for  the  means  of  sup- 
porting this  agency,  the  necessary  amount  was  at  once  voted;  it 
is  now  the  second  year  of  the  agency;  the  sum  appropriated  the 
first  year  was  $600;  I  have  asked  for  $500  for  the  current  year, 
and  shall  ask  for  more  if  necessary.  In  regard  to  my  own  pa^ 
rochial  labors  in  Trinity  parish,  during  the  whole  term  of  my 
connection  with  it,  at  least  three-fourths  thereof  have  been 
among  the  poor.  During  the  last  conventional  year  there  were 
nearly  one  hundred  baptisms  of  children  in  Trinity  Church 
itself,  of  whom  not  more,  I  think,  than  three  were  children  of  a 
different  class,  that  is  to  say,  all  were  children  of  the  poor  except 
three.  A  detailed  report  of  the  services  and  parochial  work  of 
Trinity  Church,  was  made  by  me  to  the  rector  in  September  last 


154 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTED 


at  his  request,  and  by  him  communicated  to  the  vestry  along 
with  the  reports  of  other  assistant  ministers,  and  may  be  found 
in  the  appendix  to  the  report  of  the  rector,  which  has  been 
printed  for  distribution.  In  connection  with  St.  Paul's,  St. 
John's  and  Trinity  chapel,  there  are  also  parochial  arrangements 
having  reference  to  the  poor,  with  the  details  of  which  I  am 
not,  however,  sufficiently  acquainted  to  speak,  they  being  in  the 
charge  of  oiher  assistant  ministers  of  said  parish,  St.  George's 
chapel,  Beekman  street,  has  been  sustained  by  Trinity  Church 
for  several  years  past  as  a  mission  church  ;  the  resident  popula- 
tion in  the  neighborhood  being  exclusively  of  the  poorer  class. 
The  same  remark  may  apply  to  the  resident  population  general- 
ly in  the  lower  part  of  the  city. 

Q.  What  number  of  ministers  are  there  in  Trinity  parish? 
How  are  they  employed,  and  what  are  the  cliaracter  and  num- 
ber of  the  congregations  which  attend  the  several  churches  in 
that  parish  ?  A.  There  are  nine  clergymen  in  Trinity  parish — 
the  rector  and  eight  assistant  ministers.  Two  of  the  assistant 
ministers  are  engaged  in  parochial  duty  in  connection  with  each 
of  the  churche>:,  the  rector  having  the  general  oversight  of  the 
parish,  and  performing  duties  in  all  parts  thereof.  The  congre- 
gation at  Trinity  church  is  large,  and  composed  in  great  part  of 
strangers,  transient  residents,  young  men,  clerks,  etc.,  and  the 
poor,  upon  none  of  whom  is  any  tax,  in  the  form  of  pew  rent  or 
otherwise,  laid,  for  the  support  of  the  ministrations  of  the  church. 
Of  the  character  and  number  of  the  congregations  in  the  three 
chapels — St.  Paul's,  St.  John's,  and  Trinity  chapel,  I  cannot 
speak  with  as  much  certainty.  The  congregation  at  St.  Paul's 
appears  to  me  to  be  very  similar  to  that  of  Trinity,  and  con- 
stantly becoming  more  so.  In  St.  John's  chapel,  an  arrange- 
ment has  been  made,  I  believe,  by  which  a  certain  number  of 
free  sittings  have  been  provided,  with  special  reference  to  the 
poor  ;  and  in  Trinity  chapel  there  are  from  one  hundred  and 
fifty  to  two  hundred  free  sittings,  in  the  best  parts  of  the  church, 
which  are  geneially  Avell  filled.  At  the  third  or  night  service 
in  Trinity  chapel,  which  is  continued  for  several  months  in  the 
year,  and  on  all  other  occasions  except  the  morning  and  after- 
noon service  on  Sundays  and  several  special  days,  all  the  seats 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


155 


in  Trinity  chapel  are  free.  This  chapel  and  Trinity  church  are 
open  daily  for  morning  and  afternoon  service  throughout  the  year. 
It  is  computed  there  are  from  1,200  to  1,500  free  sittings  in  the 
parish. 

Q.  Have  the  contributions  for  charitable  and  religious  purpo- 
ses in  the  down  town  congregations  of  Trinity  parish  been  de- 
creasing of  late  years,  and  if  so,  how  do  you  account  for  it  1 
A.  My  impression  is  that  they  have  decreased.  In  Trinity 
Church  our  collections,  with  the  exception  of  the  contributions 
of  a  very  few  persons,  are  small,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  great 
bulk  of  the  worshipers  are  either  strangers  or  persons  in  very 
moderate  circumstances;  the  wealthier  portion  of  its  former  con- 
gregation having  removed  to  the  upper  part  of  the  city. 

Q.  What  church  accommodations  are  there  down  town, below 
the  Park,  besides  those  afforded  by  the  churches  of  Trinity 
parish'?  A.  I  know  of  but  two  other  places  of  worship  ;  the 
Butch  church,  in  William-street,  and  the  Methodist  church,  in 
John-st.  In  consequence  of  the  removal  of  the  other  churches, 
the  clergy  of  Trinity  parish  are  not  unfrequently  called  upon  to 
minister  to  the  people  of  several  protestant  denominations. 
Among  the  candidates  presented  for  confirmation  in  Trinity 
Church,  last  spring,  a  large  proportion  were  persons  who  did  not 
originally  belong  to  the  Episcopal  church.  No  call  for  ministe- 
rial service,  from  any  quarter,  is  ever  declined  by  the  clergy  of 
Trinity  parish,  and  special  arrangements  have  been  made  at 
Trinity  and  St.  Paul's  churches  for  convenience  of  access  to  the 
clergy  for  such  duties.  For  example.  Trinity  church  is  open 
throughout  the  entire  day  in  each  day  of  the  week,  and  the 
clergy  are  in  attendance  in  the  vestry  room  at  stated  hours,  to 
answer  any  calls  for  their  services  that  may  be  made.  In  tliis 
way,  the  sick,  tlie  dying  and  t1ie  atflicted,  can  always  be  visited 
by  a  clergyman  within  a  short  period.  By  far  the  greater  part 
of  tlie  work  thus  performed  is  among  the  poor. 

Recess  until  4  P.  M.,  Saturday. 


156 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Saturday,  Feb,  14,  4  p.  m. 

Present,  the  Senate  Committee,  Messrs.  Spencer  Noxon  and 
Kamsey.  Judge  Parker  and  0.  Meads,  Esq.,  on  behalf  of  the 
Trustees  of  Trinity  Church. 

Rev.  Benjamin  I.  Haightj  testimony  continued  : 

Q.  Are  there  any  other  arrangements  in  regard  to  the  poor  in 
Trinity  parish,  in  addition  to  those  you  mentioned  yesterday? 
A.  I  think  that  one  of  my  answers  yesterday  included  all  the 
arrangements  in  general  terms.  With  the  arrangements  at  St. 
Paul's,  St.  John's  and  Trinity  chapels  I  am  not  thoroughly 
familiar.  A  sketch  of  them  will  be  found  in  the  recent  report 
of  the  Rector  to  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  which  has  been 
published,  and  to  which  I  yesterday  referred.  I  will  here  add, 
that  the  several  parochial  arrangements,  having  reference  to  the 
poor  in  Trinity  parish,  which  I  have  described,  and  which  were 
commenced  about  two  years  since,  I  regard  not  as  a  complete 
system,  but  as  only  the  beginning  of  a  system  of  parochial 
arrangement.  When  I  entered  upon  my  present  duties,  it  was 
with  the  distinct  impression  on  my  part,  grounded  upon  my 
knowledge  of  the  views  of  the  Rector  and  the  Vestry,  that  I  was 
not  to  be  simply  a  parochial  minister  at  Trinity  Church,  in  the 
ordinary  acceptation  of  that  term,  but  that  I  was  also  to  origi- 
nate and  carry  forward  various  plans  of  a  missionary  character, 
having  reference  to  the  working  classes  and  the  poor  in  that  dis- 
trict. I  have  acted  upon  this  presumption,  and  have  thus  far 
received  from  the  Rector  and  Vestry  constant  encouragement 
and  support ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  encouragement  and 
support  will  continue  to  be  extended  to  me,  with  reference  to 
any  plans  which  I  may  present  for  the  moral  and  spiritual  ben- 
tit  of  the  inhabitants  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city. 

Q.  The  report  states,  (p.  8,)  that  as  to  free  churches,  it  does  not 
appear,  from  the  report  of  Trinity  Church,  that  she  has  ever 
built  any.  What  can  you  say  on  this  subject  ?  A.  The  state- 
ment in  the  report  is  technically  true,  but  it  does  not  convey  to 
my  mind  an  accurate  representation  of  the  subject;  for  in  conse- 
quence of  the  building  of  the  new  Trinity  chapel,  and  the 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


157 


arrangements  made  by  the  Vestry  with  regard  to  the  pews  in 
that  chapel.  Trinity  Church  and  St.  Paul's  chapel  have  already 
in  great  'part  changed  their  former  character,  and  from  pewed 
churches,  as  they  are  termed,  have  become  virtually  free  churches, 
so  that,  although  Trinity  Church  has  not  built,  technically,  two 
free  churches,  she  has,  so  to  speak,  created  two.  The  foregoing 
remark  applies  in  part  also  to  St.  John's  chapel. 

The  arrangements  in  regard  to  the  pews  at  Trinity  Chapel, 
to  which  I  have  referred,  were  these :  The  Vestry  offered  to 
each  party  holding  a  pew  in  either  of  their  three  down-town 
churches,  who  might  be  desirous  of  obtaining  a  pew  in  Trinty 
Chapel,  to  credit  him  with  the  amount  of  the  rent  of  his  pew 
down  town  on  condition  that,  while  he  occupied  the  pew  in  Tri- 
nity chapel,  the  Vestry  should  be  entitled  to  the  use  of  the  pew 
down  town.  The  pews  which  thus  came  into  the  possession  of 
the  Vestry  have  been  thrown  open  by  them  for  general  use, 
without  charge.  As  the  number  of  pews  of  this  class  is  quite 
large,  as  I  have  before  said.  Trinity  and  St.  Paul's  have  become, 
in  a  large  measure,  free  churches  and  St.  John's  measurably  so; 
and  these  churches  are  of  such  a  character,  architecturally  and 
otherwise,  as  to  secure  the  attendance  of  the  poor  to  a  much 
greater  extent  than  has  been  found  practicable  in  humbler 
edifices. 

Q.  Has  Trinity  Church,  clergymen  employed  as  ministers  at 
large  whose  special  duty  it  is  to  look  after  the  spiritual  wants 
of  the  poor  and  destitute  among  the  "inhabitants  of  the  city  of 
New- York,  in  communion  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Churchl" 
A.  When  about  two  years  ago  the  Vestry  increased  the  number 
of  assistant  ministers,  three  were  added,  whose  special  duty  it 
was  to  look  after  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  poor  and  destitute; 
one  of  these  has  been  assigned  by  the  Rector  to  do  missionary 
duty  of  this  class,  in  connection  with  each  of  the  three  down 
town  churches,  and  has  been  constantly  occupied  therein  from 
that  time;  and  from  the  nature  of  the  cases,  three  of  the  other 
assistant  ministers  who  have  been  assigned  to  the  said  churches 
have  been  called  upon  for  a  large  share  of  this  sort  of  duty. 
In  my  own  case,  fully  three-fourths  of  my  parochial  work  has 
been  among  the  poor  and  destitute. 


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REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Q.  What  do  you  mean  by  missionary  duty?  A.  I  mean  the 
performance  of  ministerial  work  among  the  poor  and  destitute 
who  are  not  ordinarily  found  within  our  churches,  and  who 
have  to  be  in  many  cases  sought  after. 

Q.  In  the  report  of  this  committee,  page  24,  it  is  said  of  the 
congregation  of  Trinity  Parish  that  their  four  congregations 
united  do  less,  as  is  testified,  than  some  single  independent  con- 
gregations in  this  same  city,  with  little  or  no  endowment.  What 
have  you  to  say  on  this  subject ;  and  if  it  is  so,  is  it  charge- 
able at  all  to  the  administration  of  the  affairs  of  Trinity  Church, 
by  the  Vestry  ?  A.  If  the  statement  referred  to,  be  true,  it  is 
not  to  be  wondered  at,  inasmuch  as  two  of  the  congregations  of 
Trinity  Parish  are  now  mainly  composed  of  strangers,  transient 
persons,  the  working  classes  and  the  poor  ;  while  even  in  regard 
to  the  other  two  congregations  it  may  be  affirmed,  that  neither 
of  them,  not  even  that  of  Trinity  Chapel,  compares  in  point  of 
individual  wealth  with  several  other  independent  congregations. 
There  has  been  a  very  great  change,  of  late  years  in  the  down 
town  congregations,  in  consequence  of  the  removal  of  persons 
of  substance,  to  the  upper  parts  of  the  city.  I  can  see  no  con- 
nection whatever,  between  the  alleged  smallness  of  the  contribu- 
tions of  the  members  of  Trinity  Parish  and  the  administration 
of  the  alfairs  of  the  Corporation.  If  there  be  a  fault  in  the 
matter,  it  cannot  justly,  be  Jaid  to  the  charge  of  the  Vestry  ;  it 
must  rest  with  the  clergy  and  the  people. 

Q.  Are  you  cognizant  of  any  measures  taken  from  time  to 
time  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  who  have  been  added  to  the 
corporators  of  Trinity  Parish,  and  what  difficulties  are  there  in 
the  city  of  New- York,  in  ascertaining  who  ceased  to  be  corpora- 
tors ?  A.  I  have  been  annually  asked  by  the  rector  to  make  a 
return  to  him,  of  all  such  male  persons  who  have  to  my  knowl- 
edge become  communicants  in  our  parish,  in  order  that  he 
might  add  them  to  the  list  of  corporators.  In  no  case  that  I 
remember,  have  I  been  asked  by  any  individual  who  had  thus 
acquired  the  rights  of  a  corporator,  to  return  his  name,  but  the 
return  has  been  made  at  the  desire  of  the  rector  ;  there  is  great 
difficulty  in  the  city  of  New-York  in  a  large  and  miscellaneous 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


15& 


parish  like  ours,  in  ascertaining  who  of  the  male  communicant^ 
have  removed  and  the  time  of  their  removal  ;  the  same  diffi- 
culty is  felt  also  in  regard  to  pew  holders  ;  sometimes  there  are 
temporary  and  sometim^^s  permanent  absences  without  notifica- 
tion to  the  rector  or  any  of  the  clergy. 

Q.  It  is  said  in  the  report  of  this  committee  (page  24),  that 
there  is  so  little  interest  in  the  vestry  elections  of  Trinity  parish, 
that  in  eight  out  of  the  past  ten  years,  an  average  of  hardly  one 
in  ten  of  the  corporators  cared  to  appear  ;  is  this  state  of  things 
peculiar  to  Trinity  parish,  and  does  it  indicate  "  torpor,"  im- 
puted in  the  report  1  A.  A  like  statement  might  be  made,  I 
apprehend,  in  regard  to  every  parish  in  the  city  of  New- York  ; 
I  was  rector  for  nearly  ten  years  of  a  large  parish  in  the  city, 
All  Saints,  which  numbered  from  100  to  150  corporators;  I 
never  saw  at  any  election,  having  presided  at  all,  of  wardens  or 
vestrymen,  more  than  four  or  five  voters,  except  on  one  occasion 
at  a  period  of  great  excitement  in  the  church,  when  there  were 
about  thirty  present  ;  I  do  not  consider  the  non-attendance  of 
the  corporators  on  these  occasions,  as  any  evidence  whatever  of 
a  want  of  interest  in  parish  matters  or  as  a  sign  of ''torpor,"  but 
rather  as  a  mark  of  their  entire  satisfaction  with  the  administra- 
tion of  the  parish.  In  the  case  of  All  Saints  church,  the  parish 
was  united  and  highly  prosperous. 

J?  Q.  It  is  stated  in  the  report  of  this  committee,  p.  21.,  that  the 
elfect  of  this  system,  (that  is,  the  system  by  which  Trinity  Church 
has  contributed  to  other  parishes,  wholly  in  the  way  of  pecu- 
niary grants,  made  either  in  specific  sums  or  in  annual  appro- 
priations, terminated  at  the  pleasure  of  the  Vestry,)  as  appears 
from  the  evidence,  has  been  to  injure  instead  of  promoting  the 
independence  of  the  parishes  thus  aided.  Is  the  statement  cor- 
rect that  the  making  pecuniary  grants  in  either  of  such  forms, 
or  secured  by  mortgages,  has  had  that  effect  ?  State,  also,  what 
effect,  if  any,  has  aid  in  these  forms  had  upon  independence  of 
speech  and  freedom  of  action  on  the  part  of  parishes  and  clergy- 
men thus  aided,  where  they  meet  in  the  diocesan  conventions 
and  other  church  associations,  and  where  there  are  diversities  of 
opinion  as  to  matters  of  morals  and  doctrines  ?  A.  I  do  not 
think  that  the  aid  bestowed  in  any  of  the  forms  mentioned,  has 


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REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


had  the  slightest  effect  upon  the  independence  of  speech  and 
freedom  of  action  of  the  clergy  or  laity  of  the  parishes  aided.  I 
have  had  some  opportunity  of  noticing  the  course  pursued  by 
clergy  and  laity  in  our  diocesan  convention,  having  been  for 
twenty  years  Assistant  Secretary  and  Secretary  of  the  same,  dur- 
ing the  greater  part  of  which  time  there  prevailed  great  diver- 
sities of  opinion.  In  looking  over  the  list  of  parishes  whose 
churches  have  been  mortgaged  to  Trinity  Church,  I  find  eight, 
the  clergy  and  lay  delegates  of  which,  for  a  series  of  years,  on 
all  leading  questions  spoke  and  voted  differently  from  the  Rec- 
tor and  lay  delegates  of  Trinity.  Two  of  these  are  mortgaged 
for  125,000,  two  for  $20,000,  one  for  |5,000,  the  other  three  for 
smaller  sums.  So,  also,  in  regard  to  the  churches  which  have 
received  grants  of  land  and  money,  or  annual  stipends.  I  find 
nearly  thirty  which  have  taken  the  same  independent  course  in 
convention,  without  regard  to  the  course  of  Trinity.  My 
opinion  of  the  cleigy  and  laity  of  the  diocese  of  New-York  is 
such  that  I  do  not  think  it  would  be  practicable  for  any  corpora- 
tion to  buy  their  opinions  or  their  votes.  Of  the  churches  last 
referred  to,  six  received  gifts  of  money  and  land,  and  twelve  re- 
ceived gifts  of  money  alone,  two  received  gifts  of  land  and  a 
stipend,  three  received  gifts  of  land  alone,  six  received  gifts  of 
stipend  alone.  My  knowledge  of  the  votes  of  the  lay  delegates 
and  clergy  of  the  several  parishes  is  derived  from  the  fact  that, 
for  a  series  of  years  it  became  my  duty  at  every  convention  to 
call  the  ayes  and  noes  on  very  many  questions. 

Q.  In  applications  for  aid,  has  Trinity  Church,  in  your  opin- 
ion, favored  those  whose  party  views  were  similar  to  her  own,  or 
has  she  refused  aid  on  the  avowed  ground  that  the  views  of  the 
applicants  were  not  coincident  with  her  own  ?  A.  I  do  not  be- 
lieve that  the  question  of  church  politics  has  ever  entered  into 
the  distribution  of  the  gifts  of  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  I 
never  have  heard  of  any  application  for  aid  which  was  refused 
upon  the  ground  that  the  parties  making  it  differed  in  theologi- 
cal or  ecclesiastical  opinions  from  the  rector  and  vestry  of 
Trinity  Church.. 

Q.  What  proportion  of  the  whole  number  of  Episcopal  churches 
in  the  city  of  New- York  have  received  aid,  in  some  form,  from 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


161 


Trinity  Church  ?  A.  There  are  about  fifty  Episcopal  churches 
in  New-York  city,  and  I  think  all  of  them,  except  two,  have 
received  aid  from  Trinity  Church.  Of  these  two,  one,  the 
Church  of  the  Holy  Communion,  was  built  by  one  person,  and 
the  other,  the  Church  of  the  Incarnation,  was  built  by  the 
wealthy  congregation  of  Grace  Church. 

By  the  committee  : 

Q.  What  appropriations  have  been  made  by  Trinity  Church 
during  the  last  three  years  previous  to  April,  1855,  to  institu- 
tions of  charity,  benevolence,  or  learning,  in  the  city  of  New- 
York?  A.  I  do  not  remember  of  any  made  Avithin  that  specific 
period.  Those  that  I  have  already  named,  were  made  either 
before  or  after  the  period  mentioned. 

Q.  What  means  have  you  of  knowing  what  motives  govern 
Trinity  Church  in  her  grants  to  other  churches  ?  A.  I  have 
been  connected  with  Trinity  Church  as  one  of  the  ministers  for 
nearly  ten  years,  and  have  been  in  the  habit  of  frequent  con- 
verse with  the  rector  and  several  of  the  leading  vestrymen  in 
regard  to  their  benefactions. 

Q.  Have  the  clergy,  other  than  the  rector,  any  voice  or  vote 
in  making  gifts  or  grants  ?  A.  The  assistant  ministers  are  not 
members  of  the  vestry,  and  therefore  are  not  entitled  to  vote 
upon  such  questions.  Whatever  influence  they  may  have  in 
such  grants  arises  from  their  official  relations  to  the  vestry. 

Q.  When  you  speak  of  aid  to  churches,  do  you  include  those 
which  give  mortgages  for  what  they  receive  1  A.  I  do,  because 
it  is  perfectly  well  understood  that  those  mortgages  are  not  to 
pay  interest,  and  are  never  to  be  collected  unless  under  very 
extraordinary  circumstances. 

Q.  Do  you  or  do'  you  not  know  that  when  such  mortgages  are 
renewed,  the  accumulated  interest  is  added  to  the  principal  7 
A.  I  have  no  knowledge  on  this  particular  point,  but  have  never 
heard  or  known  that  the  payment  of  any  interest  has  been  ex- 
acted. I  have  never  heard  of  an  instance  where  the  accumu- 
lated interest  has  been  added  to  the  principal. 

11 


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REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Q.  You  spoke  of  new  arrangements  having  been  made  witHn 
the  past  two  years,  can  you  fix  the  time  more  definitely  1  A, 
I  was  assigned  to  my  present  position  early  in  June,  1855. 

Q.  Are  there  not  in  Trinity  Church  and  all  her  chapels  some 
paying  pews  ?    A.  There  are. 

Q.  Is  there  not,  sir,  a  great  want  of  churches  in  certain  parts 
of  the  city  of  New- York  ?  A.  There  is  undoubtedly  a  want  of 
church  accommodations  in  the  city  of  New-York. 

Q.  Is  there  a  single  Episcopal  church  in  the  4th,  6th,  13th  or 
14th  wards,  in  the  city  of  New-York  ?  A.  I  cannot  answer  that 
question  without  a  map  of  the  city. 

Q.  Will  you  tell  us,  sir,  when  the  present  Trinity  church  was 
built?    A.  It  was  consecrated  in  1846. 

Q,  Can  you  tell  us  what  it  cost  ?  A.  I  do  not  remember  the 
cost. 

Q.  When  was  Trinity  chapel  built  ?  A.  It  was  consecrated 
in  1855. 

Q.  What  did  it  cost  ?  A.  $227,000,  according  to  the  report  of 
the  vestry. 

Q.  How  many  persons  will  Trinity  church  and  Trinity  chapel 
seat?  A.  Trinity  church  will  seat,  as  at  present  arranged,  about 
1,'iOO;  Trinity  chapel  about  1,000  persons.  I  have  seen  2,000 
persons  in  Trinity  church  on  special  occasions. 

Q.  In  your  opinion,  has  the  Episcopal  church  kept  pace  with 
the  increase  of  population  of  the  city  ?    A.  It  has  not. 

Q.  Do  you  consider  that  the  church  accommodations  in  the 
city  have  kept  pace  with  the  increase  of  Episcopalians  in  the 
city  ?  A.I  think  it  has,  and  more  ;  inasmuch  as  the  increase  of 
population  of  the  city  of  New-York  has  been  very  largely  from 
foreign  countries,  from  New  England,  and  other  parts  of  the 
United  States,  where  the  members  of  the  Episcopal  church  have 
not  been  numerous. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


163 


Q.  Bo  you  think  clnirch  accommodations  of  all  denominations 
liave  increased  proportionately  with  the  increase  of  population  ? 
A.  I  do  not  think  that  it  has  fully.    It  has  measurably. 

Q.  Do  you  know,  sir,  whether  St.  Matthew's  church  was  shut 
up  and  offered  for  sale  ?    A.  I  have  heard  so. 

Q.  Was  Zion  church,  near  the  Five  Points,  sold  to  the  Ro- 
manists-?  A.  Yes,  sir,  it  was;  the  congregation  having  removed 
up  town  and  built  another  church. 

Q.  Was  Christ  church,  in  Anthony-street,  closed  and  sold  ? 
A.  It  was,  under  the  like  circumstances. 

Q.  Were  the  three  last  named  churches  Episcopal  churches  ? 
A.  They  were. 

Q.  In  the  cases  last  mentioned,  where  the  churches  were  sold, 
were  churches  required  for  the  purpose  of  accommodating  Epis- 
copalians'?   A.  I  think  not. 

Q.  Do  you  know  whether  St.  Matthew^s  church  made  appli- 
cation to  Trinity  for  aid  1  A.  I  do  know  that  she  made  applica- 
tion, and  that  she  received  aid,  and  that  the  rector  addressed 
two  letters  of  thanks,  on  behalf  of  the  vestry  of  St.  Matthew's, 
for  such  aid. 

Q.  How  long  was  this  before  said  church  was  closed  ?  A.  I 
don't  know. 

Q.  Do  yon  know  that  Trinity  church  refused  her  aid  ?  A.  I 
have  heard  so. 

Q.  Can  you  state  the  number  of  Episcopalians  in  the  city  of 
New-York.    A.  No,  I  cannot. 

Q.  Do  you  know  the  number  of  Episcopalians  that  belong  to 
Trinity  and  her  chapel'?  A.  From  five  to  six  thousand,  inclu- 
ding men,  women  and  children. 

Q.  What  proportion  is  that  of  the  whole  number  of  Episcopa- 
lians in  the  city,  as  near  as  you  can  judge?  A.  I  cannot  answer 
this  question,  for  want  of  sufficient  data.    I  will  examine  the 


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REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


subject  and  give  an  answer.  I  estimate  the  number  of  Episco- 
palians in  the  city  of  New-York  at  from  40,000  to  50,000. 

Q.  Could  Trinity  church  now  rent  her  pews  in  the  lower  down 
town  churches'?    A.  She  could  not,  except  in  a  few  instances. 

Q.  Did  not  that  fact  necessarily  compel  Trinity  to  make  those 
churches  free?  A.  No;  for  she  could  have  done  as  Grace 
church,  St.  George's  church,  Christ  church,  Zion  church  did; 
sold  her  churches  and  built  new  ones  up  town.  Eut  preferring 
to  keep  her  churches  down  town,  in  the  changed  condition  ol 
the  lower  part  of  the  city,  it  would  not  have  been  practicable  to 
have  rented  her  pews. 

Q.  Do  you  know  whether  the  other  clergy  attached  to  the 
chapels  of  Trinity  make  annual  return  of  the  new  male  com- 
municants to  the  rector?  A.  I  presume  that  they  do;  I  am 
asked  as  one  of  the  clergy,  I  presume  he  asks  the  others. 

Q.  Can  you  state  whether  the  clergy  who  make  these  returns 
from  the  various  chapels,  are  allowed  to  see  the  returns  thus 
made  ?    A.  I  have  no  doiibt  but  they  would  if  they  asked  it. 

Q.  Have  you  ever  seen  them,  previous  to  the  report  of  Trinity 
church  to  the  Legislature  in  1856?  A.  I  cannot  say  whether  I 
have  or  not;  I  never  had  occasion  to  look  at  the  list. 

Q.  Do  you  know  whether  Trinity  church  has  ever  foreclosed 
any  of  the  mortgages  taken  for  grants  made  by  her  ?  A.  I  do 
not. 

Q.  What  does  it  cost  Trinity  church  to  support  the  two  lay 
assistants  you  spoke  of?   A.  Their  present  stipend  is  $150  each. 

Q.  Of  whom  does  the  vestry  of  Trinity  church  consist  ?  A.  The 
rector,  two  church  wardens,  and  twenty  vestrymen. 

Q.  What  other  officers  has  Trinity  church  besides  the  mem- 
bers of  the  vestry  and  her  clergymen.  A.  A  comptroller  and 
clerk  of  the  vestry,  both  of  whom  are  members  of  the  vestry^  a 
collector,  and  one  clerk  in  the  office. 

Adjourned  to  3  J  o'clock,  Monday  P.M. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


165 


Monday  afternoon,  February  6th,  3^  o'clock  P.  M. 

Present — Senate  Committee — Senators  Spencer,  Noxon,  and 
Ramsey.    Counsel  as  before.  Judge  Parker  and  0.  Meads,  Esq. 

TESTIMONY  INTRODUCED  BY  THE  VESTRY. 

Testimony  of  Rev.  Benjamin  I.  Haight,  continued. 
Q.  Do  you  think  Trinity  Church  has  done  its  utmost  to  make 
the  capital  of  the  property  of  that  corporation,  available  for  the 
founding,  support,  or  promotion  of  religious,  charitable,  or  edu- 
cational instructions  or  purposes  1    A.  As  the  result  of  many 
years  observation,  during  the  last  ten  of  which,  I  have  been 
frequently  in  converse  with  the  Rector  and  several  of  the  senior 
members  of  the  corporation,  in  reference  to  the  appropriation 
of  their  funds  to  religious,  charitable,  and  educational  purpo- 
ses, I  answer  that  I  believe  the  Vestry  has  always  been  solicit- 
ous to  make  their  property  as  available  as  possible  for  these 
great  purposes,  and,  that  when  they  have  declined  applications 
tor  benefactions,  or  refrained  from  entering  upon,  or  prosecu- 
ting any  enterprise^brought  before  them,  either  by  members  of 
their  own  body,  or  by  others,  it  has  not  been  from  any  want  of 
interest  in  schemes  and  plans  of  christian  benevolence,  or  with 
any  view  of  increasing  their  own  estate,  but  solely  from  pru- 
dential considerations  mainly  growing  out  of  their  heavy  debt, 
which  has  accumulated  solely  from  their  pecuniary  grants.  I 
do  not  believe  that  any  other  body  of  intelligent  and  prudent 
christian  men  of  the  same  number,  and  chosen  in  the  same 
way — that  is,  by  a  popular  constituency — would  have  done 
more  than  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  as  constituted,  for  the 
last  quarter  of  a  century. 

Q.  Will  you  name  the  free  Episcopal  Churches  in  the  city  ot 
New-York?  A.  All  Angels,  Epiphany,  Holy  Comforter,  Our 
Saviour,  Holy  Communion,  Holy  Evangelist's,  Holy  Innocents, 
Holy  Martyrs,  Nativity,  St.  Cornelius,  St.  John  the  Evangelist's, 
St.  Mary's,  and  St.  Michael's  ;  the  foregoing  have  church  edifices 
proper.  Besides  these,  there  are  the  following  free  congrega- 
tions worshiping  in  halls :  the  Messiah  and  St.  Ann's.  Besides 
these,  the  following  are  at  present  suspended :  Good  Shepherd, 


166 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


temporariljy  the  church  being  constructing  ;  St.  Barnabas,  St. 
Matthew's,  and  St  Simon's.  The  former  free  church  of  St.  Jude 
has  been  merged  in  the  church  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist. 

Ey  the  Committee  (a  map  presented): 

Q.  Are  there  any  Episcopal  churches  in  the  4th ,  6th,  13th 
and  14th  wards  of  the  city  of  New- York  I   A.  There  are  none. 

Q.  In  which  of  these  wards  was  Zion  church  situated?  A.  In 
the  6th. 

Q.  After  viewing  that  map,  do  you  still  say  that  Zion  church 
was  not  needed  there  ?  A.  Such  a  question  was  not  put  to  me. 
The  question  was  whether  it  was  required  for  Episcopalians  in 
that  vicinity.  I  answered  that  I  thought  not,  and  I  think  so 
still.  If  I  had  been  asked  whether  it  was  not  desirable  that 
there  should  be  mission  churches  in  that  and  the  other  wards, 
for  the  purpose  of  supplying  the  ministrations  of  the  gospel  to 
the  destitute  of  all  classes  and  denominations,  with  a  view  to 
their  spiritual  benefit,  and  gathering  them  into  the  Episcopal 
church,  I  should  have  answered  that  I  did  think  it  desirable. 

Q.  What  would  be  the  average  number  of  persons  that  the 
free  churches  you  have  named  would  accommodate  1  A.  From 
450  to  500  each. 

Ey  Counsel  for  Trinity  Church  : 

Q.  Though  there  are  no  Episcopal  churches  in  the  wards 
named,  are  there  Episcopal  churches  close  upon  their  confines  1 
A.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  4th  ward  there  are  two  large  churches^ 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  6th  there  is  one,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  13th 
there  aire  two,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  14th  there  are  two. 

Rt.  Rev.  Horatio  Totter  called  and  sworn  : 

Q.  What  is  your  place  of  residence,  and  your  ofSce  in  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  church  ?  A.  My  place  of  residence  is  in 
the  city  of  New-York,  my  office  is  Provisional  Bishop  of  the  dio- 
cese of  New- York. 

Q.  What  opportunities  do  your  official  position  and  duties 
afford  you  for  obtaining  information  in  regard  to  the  condition^ 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


167 


wants  and  interests  of  the  various  congregations  in  your  diocese? 
A.  It  is  made  my  duty  by  canon  to  visit  periodically  all  the 
parishes  of  the  diocese  and  inquire  into  their  condition,  and  to 
maintain  at  all  times  general  superintendence  over  the  churches 
of  the  diocese.  To  which  I  may  add,  that  persons  belonging 
to  the  several  parishes  naturally  come  to  me  for  advice  and 
direction. 

Q.  Has  the  law  of  1814  in  regard  to  Trinity  Church  been  ac- 
quiesced in  or  not?  I  think  it  has  been  generally;  no  person 
has  appeared  in  the  courts  to  object  to  its  constitutionality;  had 
there  been  any  real  confidence  in  the  existence  of  a  right  in 
members  of  other  and  independent  congregations  to  be  corpora- 
tors of  Trinity  Church,  undoubtedly  that  right  would  have  been 
asserted  and  maintained  in  the  courts,  both  before  and  after 
1814;  for  more  than  thirty  years  after  the  passage  of  the  law  of 
1814,  no  attempt  was  made  to  procure  its  repeal;  there  might 
be  cases  of  individual  discontent,  as  there  will  be  with  things 
most  just  and  reasonable,  but  they  were  of  no  account  compared 
with  the  general  acquiescence  and  the  absence  of  all  formal  at- 
tempts, either  in  the  courts  or  before  the  Legislature,  to  object. 

Q.  What,  in  your  opinion,  would  be  the  effect  of  throwing 
open  the  corporation  of  Trinity  Church,  and  allowing  all  per- 
sons in  New- York,  in  communion  with  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
church,  to  become  corporators  in  that  body?  A.  The  effect 
would  be  disastrous  in  very  many  ways;  in  the  first  place,  as  it 
would  be,  in  my  opinion,  a  violation  of  the  original  meaning 
and  intent  of  the  charter,  a  meaning  and  intent  recognized  and 
admitted  for  fifty  years,  it  would  constitute  an  act  of  public 
fraud  and  immorality,  so  gross  as  to  be  of  evil  influence  through- 
out the  whole  country;  but  besides  that,  the  immediate  opera- 
tion in  the  city  of  New- York  would  be  extremely  injurious  to 
the  peace  and  well  being  of  the  church ;  all  the  parishes  in  the 
city  would  be  brought  into  conflict  with  Trinity  Church  and 
with  each  other.  Trinity  Church  is  a  parish  like  any  other  in  the 
city,  except  as  to  the  amount  of  its  wealth.  Persons  who  were 
corporators  in  an  independeet  parish,  having  its  own  peculiar 
interests  and  objects,  would  be  corporators  also  in  Triniy  church, 


168 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


where  they  would  be  present  by  their  representatives  to  embarrass 
and  control  her  parochial  operations,  and  to  take  from  her  her 
means  for  their  own  purposes;  such  foreign  corporators  might, 
and  I  believe  would  have  selfish  reasons  for  desiring  to  cripple 
the  parochial  work  of  Trinity  Church,  while  they  sought  to  build 
up  rival  churches  of  their  own. 

Under  such  a  system,  Trinity  Church  would  soon  cease  to  be 
a  parish,  in  the  ordinary  sense  of  the  term.  Her  parochial  work 
would  be  reduced  and  gradually  ruined;  and  she  would  become 
the  mere  holder  of  a  fund,  a  mere  financial  body,  for  whose 
wealth  many  thousands  of  persons,  cut  up  into  conflicting  and 
rival  sections,  would  be  scrambling.  The  annual  elections 
would  present  a  scene  most  grossly  unbecoming,  highly  injuri- 
ous to  the  character  of  the  church  and  to  the  interests  of  religion, 
for  those  elections  would  be  sure  to  be  severely  contested  elec- 
tions, where  several  thousand  persons  would  have  a  right  to 
vote,  and  where  there  would  be  great  temptation  among  the 
outstanding  congregations  to  swell  the  number  of  their  voters, 
by  all  sorts  of  means.  There  would  be  a  temptation  to  unfair 
combinations  among  difierent  parishes  and  sections  of  the  city  to 
procure  grants  in  favor  of  each  other.  All  this  would  be  a  per- 
fect anomaly  in  the  Episcopal  church.  I  know  of  no  cases  in 
which  the  same  person  is  corporator  in  the  different  parishes, 
the  parishes  being  in  a  position  to  be  rivals  to  each  other.  There 
are  instances,  probably,  in  which  a  person  is  a  corporator  in  a 
city  parish  and  also  in  a  rural  parish,  where  he  has  his  country 
residence;  but  this  is  attended  with  no  serious  evil.  In  every 
system,  whether  of  the  family,  the  State,  or  the  church,  where  a 
person  is  present  within,  to  influence,  to  control,  he  is  supposed 
to  be  a  member  of  the  system,  with  a  kindly  interest  in  it,  with 
a  generous  devotion  to  its  welfare,  and  subject  to  all  its  laws  and 
authorities.  But  if  the  corporation  of  Trinity  Church  were 
thrown  open,  you  would  probably  have  vestrymen  present  to 
vote  away  its  money,  to  control  its  counsels,  who  were  enemies 
and  aliens;  interested  in  other  parishes,  but  not  in  Trinity 
Church;  not  subject  to  its  rector,  not  under  its  religious  influ- 
ence, but  present  only  to  vex  and  harrass.    This  is  not  only  a 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


169 


violation  of  all  the  principles  of  the  church,  which  require  that 
every  person  present  in  a  parish  with  any  rights  and  privileges, 
shall  be  amenable  to  the  spiritual  authority  of  the  rector,  but  is 
a  violation  of  common  sense,  which  requires  that  those  who  vote 
or  rule  in  a  body,  shall  be  bona  fide  members  of  it,  and  owe  it  a 
hearty  allegiance. 

Q.  What  is  your  view  in  regard  to  the  course  of  Trinity 
Church  in  rebuilding  Trinity  Church  at  the  head  of  Wall-street, 
and  in  building  Trinity  Chapel,  in  Twenty-fifth-street  1  A.  1  think 
it  was  a  very  proper  course.  It  was  natural  they  should  desire 
to  retain  the  old  site  down  town,  so  long  endeared  to  them,  and 
it  was  very  important  that  the  lower  part  of  the  city,  which  was 
in  a  way  to  be  abandoned  by  all  the  other  Episcopal  congrega- 
tions, should  not  be  abandoned  by  them.  They  owe  it  tu  the 
lower  part  of  the  city  to  maintain  themselves  there,  among  the 
poor,  and  their  property  enabled  them  to  do  so.  In  regard  to 
the  building  of  Trinity  Chapel,  up  town,  many  of  their  old  par- 
ishioners had  moved  far  up  town,  with  only  very  moderate 
means,  in  many  cases,  and  it  seemed  the  duty  of  Trinity  Church 
to  follow  them  and  provide  for  them,  and  to  seek  to  retain  them 
as  her  parishioners.  The  erection  of  Trinity  Chapel  was  there- 
fore a  proper  measure.  As  to  the  costly  character  of  the  two 
edifices,  I  consider  that  Trinity  Church  only  did  her  duty  in 
making  them  models  of  ecclesiastical  architecture.  Her  wealth 
had  been  created  mainly  by  the  growth  of  the  city.  She  there- 
fore owed  to  the  city  some  contribution  in  the  way  of  beautiful 
and  magnificent  edifices.  And  with  her  wealth,  she  owed  it 
equally  to  the  character  of  her  own  communion.  Haa  Trinity 
Church,  with  its  means,  limited  itself  to  the  erection  of  build- 
ings of  a  moderate  cost,  I  have  no  doubt  the  parish  would  have 
been  severely  censured,  both  by  the  church  and  by  the  commu- 
nity generally.  As  a  general  thing,  I  believe  a  few  costly 
churches  are  of  great  utility  to  the  interests  of  religion.  I  have 
no  doubt  that  Westminister  Abbey  has,  in  the  course  of  ages, 
been  worth  to  the  influence  of  Divine  Truth  in  the  world,  vastly 
more  than  all  that  it  ever  cost. 


170 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE. 


Q.  What  is  your  opinion  of  the  effect  of  the  course  of  Trinity- 
Church,  in  giving  her  aid  to  churches  in  the  form  of  loans 
upon  mortgages,  rather  than  in  the  form  of  absolute  grants'? 
A.  Those  loans  were  absolute  grants  in  reality,  nobody  ever  sup- 
posed that  the  interest  or  the  principal  would  be  called  for  by 
Trinity  Church.  They  never  have  been,  in  a  single  instance, 
although  the  cases  have  been  very  numerous,  in  which  land 
mortgages  have  been  given.  When  I  consecrate  a  church,  I  al- 
ways wish  to  know  whether  there  be  any  debt.  J  never  regard 
a  mortgage  given  to  Trinity  Church,  in  the  light  of  a  debt.  I 
have  never  perceived,  I  do  not  believe,  that  such  mortgages,  in 
any  way  affect  the  independence  of  ministers,  or  laymen.  It 
is  very  common  indeed,  to  see  the  minister,  and  laymen  of  a 
Church,  subject  to  a  mortgage,  voting  against  measures  favored 
by  Trinity  Church.  In  convention,  I  doubt  whether  any  one 
remembers  or  reflects,  whether  mortgages  exist  in  particular 
quarters  or  not.  The  effect  of  these  mortgages  has,  I  have  no 
doubt,  been  important  in  preventing  the  property  of  churches 
from  being  sold  and  alienated  from  their  sacred  use.  And  this, 
I  have  always  understood,  was  the  sole  object  of  Trinity  Church 
in  requiring  them. 

Q.  St.  Matthew's  Church  in  New- York  has  been  recently 
closed.  Was  it  the  duty  of  Trinity  Church  under  the  circum- 
stances, to  have  preventefl  that  result  ?  A.  I  cannot  say,  that, 
under  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  I  would  have  advised 
Trinity  Church  to  do  differently  from  what  she  has  done. 

Q.  What  Is  your  view  of  the  past  management  of  Trinity 
Church  in  relation  to  the  poor  ?  A.  Trinity  Church  has  done  a 
great  deal  for  the  poor  in  many  ways — She  has  provided  free 
education  for  the  poor,  in  schools  and  colleges — She  has  assisted 
in  the  erection  of  between  one  and  two  hundred  (nearly  two 
hundred)  churches  in  the  State.  To  say  the  least,  a  very  large 
portion  of  all  these  grants  must  be  considered  as  assistance 
granted  to  those  who  had  not  the  means  of  doing  all  for  them- 
selves. She  has  granted  annuities  in  many  cases  to  aged  clergy- 
men and  to  the  widows  and  orphans  of  deceased  clergymen. 
She  has  schools  for  poor  children  connected  with  several  of  her 
churches  and  chapels.    And  finally,  all  her  churches,  down 


on  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


171 


town,  Trinity  Churcli,  St.  Paul's,  St.  John's  and  Old  St.  George's, 
supported  by  her,  are,  to  a  very  large  extent,  in  the  nature  of  a 
free  provision  for  the  poor.  And  besides  these,  there  are  several 
other  churches,  situated  in  districts  much  occupied  by  the  poor, 
whiih  are  largely  assisted  by  Trinity  Church. 

Q.  It  is  alleged  that  in  some  districts  of  New-York  there  is  a 
want  of  adequate  religious  provision  for  the  poor ;  can  you  state 
any  facts  bearing  upon  this  matter  ?  A.  Some  portions  of  the 
city  are  chiefly  occupied  by  Germans;  other  inhabitants  remove 
from  those  sections.  There  are  consequently  fewer  persons  than 
we  might  at  first  suppose  capable  of  being  gathered  into  Episco- 
pal congregations.  There  may  be,  and  probably  is,  after  all,  a 
deficiency  of  church  accommodation,  but  it  is  not  as  great  in 
some  quarters  as  it  seems  to  be. 

By  the  Committee : 

Q.  Do  you  think  in  seeking  to  retain  the  parishioners  in 
Trinity  chapel,  it  was  right  to  seek  to  cut  them  off  as  corpora- 
tors ?  A.  I  have  not  understood  that  it  was  contemplated  by 
Trinity  church  to  cut  olf  her  parishioners  as  corporators.  In 
the  abstract  I  should  say  it  would  not  be  right  to  do  so.  I  sup- 
pose it  was  intended  to  prevent  a  rush  of  strangers  from  com- 
ing in  and  making  themselves  corporators  from  interested 
motives. 

Q.  Did  you  ever  see  the  lease  under  which  the  pews  in 
Trinity  chapel  were  leased?    A.  I  have  not. 

[Lease  shown  the  witness. ) 

Q.  After  examining  the  lease,  do  you  not  think  it  would  cut 
them  olf  as  corporators  1    A.  It  seems  to  do  so,  sir. 

Q.  What  appropriations  were  made  by  Trinity  Church,  for 
three  years  previous  to  April  1855,  to  institutions  of  charity, 
benevolence  or  learning  in  the  city  of  New-York  ?  A.  I  have 
been  in  the  city  of  New-York  only  a  portion  of  that  time,  about 
a  year  and  three  or  four  months,  and  I  am  only  generally  cog- 
nizant of  the  fact  that  Trinity  Church  has  been  continually 
making  grants  to  one  object  and  another,  without  fixing  my 


in 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


attention  to  any  in  particular.  I  cannot  say  whether  the  grants 
here  referred  to  are  included  in  the  grants  that  have  been  made. 

Q.  Can  you  mention  any  appropriations  of  the  kind  spoken  of, 
made  at  any  time,  and  if  so,  at  what  time,  and  what  were  they  ? 
A.  I  know  that  grants  have  been  made  to  Columbia  College  and 
I  believe  to  Trinity  school.  I  am  not  able  to  answer  fully  ; 
cannot  specify  the  time.  I  may  be  permitted  to  say  that  my  at- 
tention has  been  more  particularly  directed  to  grants  at  large 
for  church  buildings  than  to  those  objects. 

Q.  Can  you  say  that  you  know  of  any  such  appropriations, 
made  within  the  last  ten  or  twenty  years  ?  A.  I  cannot  say 
that  I  can, 

Q.  You  answer  the  first  question  that  the  law  of  1814  has 
been  acquiesced  in ;  has  it  been  by  the  church  in  the  city  of 
New-York  generally,  outside  of  Trinity  1  A.  My  impression  is, 
that  until  within  a  recent  period,  twelve  or  fifteen  years,  it  has 
been. 

Q.  During  that  twelve  or  fifteen  years,  has  not  the  great  body 
of  the  Episcopal  church,  outside  of  Trinity,  in  the  city  of  New- 
York,  been  dissatisfied  with  the  law  of  1814?  A.  I  should  not 
think  so  ;  but,  as  I  said  before,  my  acquaintance  with  New- York, 
until  within  a  year  or  two,  has  been  only  a  very  general  one, 
and  my  opinion  is  partly  formed  from  what  I  have  known 
myself,  and  partly  an  inference  from  the  absence  of  any  formal 
attempt  to  controvert  the  law. 

Q.  Previous  to  the  law  of  1814,  did,  or  did  not  the  inhabitants 
of  New-York,  in  communion  with  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
church,  outside  of  Trinity,  exercise  and  enjoy  the  right  of  voting 
for  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  Trinity  church?  A.  I  have 
always  understood  that  they  did  not. 

Q.  Do  you  not  understand  that  right  to  have  been  guaranteed 
under  the  charter  to  those  in  communion  with  the  church,  and 
not  belonging  to  the  parish  of  Trinity  church,  in  the  city  ot  New- 
York?  A.  I  do  not.  I  may  add,  that  the  charter  of  my  own 
late  parish,  St.  Peter's,  Albany,  is  in  the  same  terms,  and  was 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


173 


never  held  to  guarantee  rights  to  any  one  outside  the  parish. 
When  the  second  congregation  was  formed,  St.  Paul's,  in  this 
city,  (Albany,)  St.  Peter's  church,  having  such  a  charter,  had 
property,  to  which  the  members  of  St.  Paul's  church  never  set 
up  any  claim. 

Q.  What  difficulties  would  arise  in  each  of  the  Episcopal 
churches  in  the  city  of  New-York  sending  a  delegate  to  a  con- 
vention to  choose  wardens  and  vestrymen  to  take  care  of  the 
fund  now  administered  by  Trinity  church  ?  A.  I  think  it  would 
be  possible  to  suggest  many  difficulties  of  detail.  But  I  have  a 
general  answer.  The  church  is  governed  in  accordance  with 
long  tried,  well  settled,  traditional  principles  and  practices,  the 
precise  nature  of  which  is  thoroughly  understood  from  long 
experience.  The  system  suggested  would  be  an  entirely  anomaly 
in  the  church,  both  in  this  country  and  in  England,  and  I  should 
think  a  very  dangerous  one  to  adopt. 

Q.  What  has  the  government  of  the  church  to  do  with  the 
administration  of  this  fund  1  A.  The  church  knows  of  no  dis- 
tinction between  the  administration  of  church  funds,  and 
matters  purely  spiritual.  They  are  all  part  and  parcel  of  the 
same  system.  She  does  not  know  of  money  in  any  secular 
sense.  I  may  add,  in  the  case  of  every  known  church  in  this 
country  and  in  England,  the  same  body  that  regulates  the  spir- 
itual concerns  of  a  parish  regulates  also  its  church  fund  as  a 
religious  act. 

Q.  Is  not  the  administration  of  this  fund  entirely  and  abso- 
lutely separate  from  all  the  religious  and  ecclesiastical  care  of 
the  church,  as  a  religious  society  ?    A.  I  think  not. 

Q.  Wherein  does  she  exercise  any  control  1  A.  The  imme- 
diate disposal  of  this  fund  is  ordered  in  the  presence  of  and  by 
the  rector,  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  the  parish.  They  are 
both  immediately  responsible  to  me  as  the  bishop  of  the  diocese, 
and  are  amenable  to  the  church  of  this  diocese  assembled  in 
convention.  I  do  not  mean,  however,  to  be  understood  that  I 
supervise  the  details  of  appropriations,  or  that  my  assent  is 
essential  to  the  validity  of  any  grants  by  the  vestry. 


174 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Q.  Is  not  the  care  of  the  bishop,  rector,  wardens  and  vestry- 
men, theoretical,  and  the  practical  care  of  this  fund  entrusted  to 
a  committee  of  the  wardens  and  vestrymen  ?  A.  I  think  the 
care  of  the  bishop,  rector,  wardens  and  vestrymen,  is  not  theo- 
retical, but  practical,  though  the  bishop,  of  course,  is  not  a 
member  of  this  body,  and  has  only  a  general  oversight  over  the 
affairs  of  the  church.  As  in  any  large  body,  which  in  this  case 
amounts  to  twenty-three  persons,  there  is  a  sub-committee  which, 
however,  takes  cognizance  not  merely  of  money  matters,  but  of 
matters  bearing  upon  the  spiritual  well-being  of  the  parish,  and 
which  committee  is  appointed  for  the  convenience  of  arranging 
and  preparing  business  for  the  full  meeting  of  the  vestry,  where 
it  is  deliberately  passed  upon.  And  I  have  to  say,  furthermore, 
that  the  care  of  the  bishop  and  the  rector  is  a  reality,  inasmuch 
as  if  the  members  of  the  vestry  violated  their  duty  they  would 
be  subject  to  be  admonished  and  disciplined  by  the  rector,  and 
if  they  and  the  rector  together,  either  or  both,  clearly  violated 
their  duty  so  as  to  be  adjudged  guilty  of  an  offence  capable  of 
being  made  evident  to  me  or  the  bishop,  they  would  certainly  be 
liable  to  be  disciplined  by  him. 

Q.  Do  the  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  Trinity  Church  report 
to  the  bishop  or  to  the  convention  their  action  in  relation  to 
grants  or  aid  to  churches,  or  in  relation  to  their  general  affairs  ? 
A.  They  do  not  formally  make  a  full  report  of  all  grants,  but 
from  the  interest  which  attaches  to  the  affairs  of  that  parish,  I 
believe  its  internal  business  is  better  known  to  the  bishop  and 
church  at  large,  than  the  affairs  of  any  other  wealthy  Episcopal 
congregation  in  the  city  of  New- York.  I  am  "not  aware  that 
there  is  any  concealment. 

Q.  Do  they  make  an  informal  report  ?  A.  Various  reports 
have  been  made  at  different  times  of  the  grants  of  Trinity  Church, 
and  I  believe  their  proceedings  generally  transpire  speedily.  In 
some  instances  action  is  reported  to  me  immediately. 

Q.  If  they  make  no  report  to  you,  how  have  you  any  super- 
vision over  their  affairs,  except  theoretically  1  A.  The  general 
course  of  the  administration  of  affairs  in  the  parish  is  well 
known.    I  presume  it  will  be  found  that  in  every  year  the 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


175 


receipts  and  the  expenditures  of  the  parish  are  known  to  a  very 
considerable  number  of  persons  most  interested. 

Q.  Have  you  any  knowledge  whatever  of  the  management  of 
the  affairs  of  Trinity  Church  1  A.  I  have  only  a  general  knowl- 
edge of  those  of  any  parish. 

Q.  What  greater  reason  was  there  for  abandoning  the  church 
at  the  Five  Points,  and  Christ  Church,  than  for  abandoning 
Trinity  Church  at  the  head  of  Wall-street?  A.  The  church  at 
the  Five  Points  and  Christ  Church,  were  independent  parishes, 
and  moved,  I  presume,  of  their  own  option  to  a  more  eligible 
portion  of  the  city.  Trinity  Church  might  have  removed  to  a 
more  eligible  portion  of  the  city,  so  far  as  the  character  of  her 
worshipers,  for  wealth,  were  concerned  ;  but  preferred  to  retain 
a  very  old  site,  the  oldest  I  believe  in  the  city,  and  to  continue 
to  exercise  her  ministry  in  that  very  destitute  portion  of  the 
city. 

Q.  Were  there  not  as  strong  reasons  for  retaining  Zion  church  at 
the  Five  Points,  as  there  were  for  retaining  Trinity  upon  her 
site  ?  A.  I  was  not  as  well  acquainted  with  the  position  of  Zion 
church  in  those  days  as  with  that  of  Trinity,  and  it  may  have 
been  very  desirable  that  a  church  should  have  been  retained  in 
the  place  of  Zion  church. 

Q.  Is  or  is  not  the  effect  of  making  loans  to  churches  and  tak- 
ing back  bonds  and  mortgages  for  the  money  so  loaned,  to  cause 
the  churches  thus  receiving  loans  to  vote  in  convention  for  the 
particular  views  Trinity  Church  espouses  ?  A.  I  can  only  judge 
from  my  own  experience  and  observation,  and  so  judging  should 
think  not.  I  can  recall  many  cases  where  such  mortgages 
exist,  and  where  the  rector  and  the  lay  delegates  quite  habitual- 
ly vote  on  a  side  different  from  Trinity  Church.  My  attention 
has  never  been  called  to  any  case  where  the  independence  of  the 
rector  and  laity  seemed  to  have  been  impaired  in  consequence 
of  the  existence  of  any  mortgage. 

Q.  Do  or  do  you  not  know  that  in  the  grants  of  Trinity 
Church,  she  aids  ten  churches  classed  as  ^'  high  church,"  where 
she  aids  one  of  opposite  views  ?   A.  I  do  not  know  that  she 


176 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


does;  it  may  seem  strange,  but  I  never  have  looked  at  the  grants 
of  Trinity  Church  to  see  how  that  was. 

Q.  Can  you  state  the  comparative  number  of  the  congregations 
known  as  ^'high  church"  in  this  diocese,  and  those  known  of  the 
opposite  character  ?  A.I  can  suppose  that  there  are  many  con- 
gregations that  would  not  care  to  have  either  term  applied;  but 
if  the  line  were  to  be  strictly  drawn,  including  on  one  side  or 
the  other  every  congregation,  I  suppose  there  would  be  five  or 
six  of  the  "high  church"  to  one  of  the  "low." 

Q.  What  is  the  proportion  in  the  city  of  New- York  ?  A.  I  am 
not  so  well  informed  in  regard  to  the  city  of  New- York  as  in 
regard  to  the  whole  diocese,  because  a  general  vote  is  sometimes 
taken  in  convention  showing  the  comparative  numbers  in  the 
whole  diocese,  but  nothing  of  the  same  kind  occurs  to  show  the 
proportion  in  the  city,  yet  I  have  no  dOubt  that  the  proportion 
of  what  would  be  called  "low  church"  in  the  city,  is  somewhat 
larger  than  in  the  diocese  generally. 

Q.  Was  there  not  a  time  in  the  city  of  New-York,  when  all 
Episcopalians  in  that  city  had  a  right  to  vote  at  the  elections  of 
Trinity  Church  1  A.  I  am  not  aware  that  there  was  any  such 
time,  unless  it  was  at  a  very  early  period  when  all  Episcopalians 
were  members  of  that  parish. 

Q.  What  greater  difficulty  would  there  be  in  managing  a 
larger  property |of  the  church  through  the  convention,  than  there 
is  in  managing  the  Episcopal  Fund  ?  A.  So  that  they  were 
rightfully  possessed  of  a  larger  property,  I  think  they  might  be 
able  to  manage  it. 

By  Counsel  for  Trinity  Church. 

Q.  Say,  whether  there  is  not,  necessarily,  a  most  intimate  con- 
nection between  the  spiritual  and  financial  affairs  of  a  parish, 
growing  out  of  the  fact,  that  the  funds  are  to  be  applied  with 
reference  to  spiritual  interests  1    A.  Undoubtedly. 

Q.  Had  Trinity  any  control  over  the  removal  of  Zion  Church 
from  the  Five  Points,  or  Christ  Church  from  Anthony  street  1 
not  aware  that  she  had. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


177 


Q.  If  it  be  true,  that  in  eight,  out  of  the  past  ten  years,  an 
average  of  hardly  one  in  ten  of  the  corporators  of  Trinity  Church 
appeared  at  the  vestry  elections  of  Trinity  Church,  is  this  a 
state  of  things  peculiar  to  that  parish,  and  does  it  indicate 

torpor?"  A.  It  is  quite  the  ordinary  condition  of  things 
throughout  the  diocese,  I  should  think.  It  is  generally  rather 
a  favorable  indication,  than  otherwise,  implying  satisfaction 
with  the  administration  of  the  affairs.  As  a  general  thing 
throughout  the  diocese,  and  throughout  the  country,  probably, 
you  will  find  few  voters  present,  unless  there  is  some  trouble. 

Q,  How  was  it,  during  the  tv/enty-two  years  that  you  were 
Rector  of  St.  Peter's  Church  in  Albany?  A.  I  suppose,  out  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  or  one  hundred  and  thirty  corpora- 
tois,  there  were,  on  an  average,  from  six  to  ten  persons  present 
at  annual  vestry  meetings, 

Q.  Do  you  think  that  Trinity  Church  has  done  its  utmost  to 
make  the  capital  of  the  property  of  that  corporation,  available 
for  the  founding,  support,  or  promotion  of  religious,  charitable, 
or  educational  institutions,  or  purposes?  A.  It  is  a  yery  diffi- 
cult question  for  any  one  to  answer,  I  have  had  some  plans  that  I 
have  washed,  and  intended  to  propose  to  the  rector  and  vestry  of 
Trinity  Church,  but  I  was  met,  in  turning  the  matter  in  my  own 
mind,  on  the  threshold,  with  the  fact,  that  Trinity  Church  has 
already  a  debt  of,  between  $600,000  and  $700,000;  she  is  con- 
stantly beset  by  various  applications,  for  important  objects,  and 
has  been  making  grants,  whenever  she  felt  herself  warranted 
in  doing  so;  and  I  have  felt  that  there  might  be  difficulties 
about  raising  large  sums  of  money  at  present,  and  having  en- 
tire confidence  in  the  probity  and  good  will  of  the  vestry,  I  felt 
unwilling  to  press  them  to  exertions  beyond  what  their  own 
judgment  warranted.  Whether  they  have  ever  made  any  mis- 
takes, or  omitted  to  make  appropriations,  when  they  ought  to 
have  done  so,  I  am  sure  I  am  not  able  to  say,  nor  do  I  consider 
it  a  very  material  question  in  the  present  aspect  of  affairs. 

Q.  Is  it  the  practice  of  the  vestry  to  consult  with  the  bishop 
of  the  church  with  reference  to  making  or  refusing  grants? 

12 


178 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


A.  It  is  not;  I  inay  be  spoken  to  in  some  instances,  but  I  par- 
ticularly wish  to  avoid  it.  The  applications  will  always  be  very 
much  more  numerous  than  can  possibly  be  granted  under  any 
conceivable  state  of  things.  If  I  was  known  to  interfere  in  the 
matter  of  appropriations,  my  duties  and  responsibilities  would 
be  very  largely  increased  indeed,  without  any  corresponding 
benefit  to  the  church.  I  have  felt  obliged  to  have  it  understood 
in  the  diocese  that  I  could  not  act  in  behalf  of  applicants. 

Q.  Can  you  tell  us  whether  Trinity  Church  has,  within  the 
past  twenty  years,  given  any  lots  of  land  for  any  purpose  what- 
ever, except  the  burial  plot  spoken  of  in  the  report  1  A.I  don't 
know  whether  she  has  or  not. 

Recess  to  to-morrow  at  4  p.  m. 


Thursday  Afternoon,  February  17. 
Present,  Senate  Committee,  Messrs  Spencer,  Noxon,  and  Ram- 
sey •  Judge  Parker,  and  0.  Meads,  Esq.,  counsel  for  Trinity  Cor- 
poration. 

Rev.  Jesse  Poundj  recalled,  examined  by  counsel  for  Trinity 
Church. 

Q.  Were  you  the  pastor  of  St.  Maithew's  church  at  the  time 
it  was  closed?    A.  I  was. 

Q.  What  other  Episcopal  churches  were  near  St,  Matthew's? 
A.  There  were  several;  St.  Lukes's,  St.  Clement's,  and  there  was 
a  recently  organized  congregation  called  the  St.  John  the  Evan- 
gelist, first  called  St.  Jude's;  these  were  all  that  were  in  the  im- 
mediate neighborhood. 

Q.  Which  of  these  was  the  last  organized  ?  A.  St.  John  the 
Evangelist,  or  St.  Jude's,  as  formerly  named. 

Q  Was  there,  in  your  opinion,  any  necessity  for  the  organi- 
tion  of  St.  Jude's?  A.  I  think  not,  the  wants  of  the  neighbor- 
hood were  abundantly  met  by  existing  corporations. 

Q.  How  long  before  St.  Matthew's  was  closed  was  St.  Jude's 
organized  1  A.  I  think  about  eight  years;  but  would  not  be 
certain  as  to  the  precise  time. 


OF  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


179 


Q.  How  near  was  St.  Jude's  church  to  St.  Clement's  ?  A.  It 
was  very  near  the  length  of  one  block. 

Q.  How  far  was  St.  Luke's  from  St.  Matthew's?  A.  The  dis- 
tance of  three  blocks.    St,  Luke's  was  nearest  to  St.  Mattliew's. 

Q.  How  far  is  St.  Jude's  or  St.  John's  the  Evangelist,  from 
St.  Matthew's.    A.  It  is  within  three  blocks. 

The  following  letter  was  here  introduced  and  read: 


To  the  Rector^  Church-wardens^  and  Vestrymen  of  Tnnily  Church: 

Gentlemen — The  undersigned,  in  behalf  of  St.  Matthew's 
church,  in  this  city,  beg  leave  to  address  you  for  the  purpose  of 
discharging  a  duty  which  is  as  pleasing  to  our  own  feelings  as 
we  hope  it  will  prove  acceptable  to  your's,  and  which  has  only 
been  thus  long  delayed  by  the  fact  of  our  not  having  had  a 
regular  and  full  vestry  meeting  during  the  past  summer.  The 
duty  alluded  to,  is  that  of  presenting  to  your  honorable  body 
our  very  sincere  and  most  grateful  acknowledgments  for  the  an- 
nual appropriation  you  have  been  pleased  to  make  to  the  parish 
we  represent.  We  beg  kave,  most  sincerely  to  assure  you  of 
our  grateful  appreciation  of  this  act  of  kindness  and  considera- 
tion, and  that  w^e  regard  the  value  of  the  stipend,  and  our  obli- 
gation to  its  donors,  vastly  increased  by  the  fact  that  it  was  un- 
solicited. We  consider  it  to  be  the  province  of  St.  Matthew's  to 
test  the  practicability  and  efficiency  of  the  free  church  principle, 
and  since  God's  providence  has  placed  us  in  a  condition  to  test 
it  fairly  and  fully,  we  are  determined  so  to  do,  that  if  it  fail  here, 
it  may  be  regarded  as  a  total  failure.  Accept,  therefore,  our 
most  sincere  thanks  for  giving  us  something  on  which  our  rector 
may  rely  while  this  experiment  is  being  made;  and  praying  God 
to  bless  your  exertions  in  discharging  the  obligations  of  your 
high  trust  and  mighty  responsibilities,  we  are,  gentlemen,  very 
sincerely. 


New- York,  October  20M,  1847. 


(Signed) 
John  McRae, 
Henry  Fisher, 


Yoir  grateful  friends  and  brethren, 

JESSE  POUND,  Rector. 


Wardens. 


■J 


REPORT  OF  SELrCT  COMMITTEE 


Q.  Is  that  your  signature  aflGixed  to  the  letter  1    A.  Yes^  sir, 

Q.  Are  tbe  others  the  signatures  of  the  wardens  1    A.  Yes,  sir. 

The  witness  desired  to  explain^  as  follows  St  Matthew's 
church  was  first  given  to  the  City  Mission  Society.  To  that 
society,  Trinity  had  been  accustomed  to  give  an  annual  stipend^, 
to  each  of  their  stations.  That  society  became  unable  to  sustain 
itself.  The  City  Mission  Society  paid  the  stipend  to  eadi  churchy 
of  which  Trinity  paid  $600^  which  was  one-half„  There  were 
three  churches.  The  action  of  Trinity  church  vestry,  to  which 
that  letter  refers,,  was  subsequent  to  their  being  given  up  by  the 
City  Mission  Society,  and  consequent  upon  that  act.  The  $400 
was,  therefore,  in  lieu  of  the  $600  which  had  formerly  been  paid 
to  the  City  Mission  Society, 

Again,  in  relation  to  tbe  reasons  which  led  to  the  founding  of 
St.  Matthew's  Church.  It  was  first  purchased  by  an  individual 
wholly,  and  given  to  the  City  Mission  Society,  in  order  that  it 
might  supply  free  church  accommodations  to  that  neighborhood. 
The  location  of  the  church  was  not  esteemed  a  desirable  one^ 
chiefly  on  account  of  its  nearness  to  St.  Luke's  j  but  the  property 
was  an  eligible  one  and  such  as  could  be  paid  for  with  the  means 
in  hand.  Before  any  step  was  taken  towards  the  purchase^  or 
any  third  individual  knew  of  such  intention.  Bishop  Eastburn 
and  myself  waited  upon  Mr.  Forbes,  then  the  rector  of  St.  Luke's. 
Dr.  Eastburn  stated  to  him  his  purpose,  and  asked  him  if  he  had 
any  objection  arising  from  its  nearness  to  St.  Luke's.  He  replied 
he  had  not  the  least,  and  bid  us  God  speed.  He  further  observed 
that  he  could  have  no  objection;  inasmuch  as  there  had  not  been 
a  pew  or  sitting  to  let  in  St.  Luke's  for  years,  and  there  were 
constant  applications  for  them  which  they  could  not  supply. 
He  further  observed  that  were  the  church  on  the  lot  adjoining 
St.  Luke's  he  would  have  no  objection. 

Q.  How  long  before  the  closing  of  St.  Matthew's  did  yoit 
adopt  the  practice  of  renting  the  pews  1  A.  About  three  years. 
The  practice  was  continued  until  the  close  of  the  church,  but 
the  rent  was  nominal,  ranging  from  $5  to  |20.  The  only  object 
was  to  produce  income  enough  to  pay  expenses. 


SDF  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


181 


Q.  Who  was  the  first  rector  of  St,  Jude.  A.  Rev.  R.  C. 
Shimeal. 

B.  Did  he  afterwards  become  a  Presbyteriaa  minister  1  A- 
He  did,  soon  after  he  left  the  parish, 

Ey  the  committee, 

Q.  It  appears  by  the  report  of  Trinity  Church,  that  she  gave 
annually  to  iSt.  Lulie's  12,100.  What  portion  of  that  sum  given 
to  St,  Matthew's  would  have  sustained  that  church?  A.  One- 
half  of  it. 

Q.  By  giving  one-half  that  sum  that  property  would  then 
have  been  preserved  to  the  Episcopal  Church  in  the  city  1  A, 
It  would, 

Q.  Did  Trinity  Church  receive  back  from  the  City  Mission 
Society  any  considerable  portion  of  her  advances  to  that  institu- 
tion 1  A.  I  have  reason  to  believe  they  did  from  the  sale  of  the 
property,  but  not  from  the  society. 

Q.  How  was  the  property  sold  1  A,  It  was  sold  under  fore- 
closure of  mortgages, 

Q.  Did  Trinity  Church  hold  mortgages  upon  those  two 
churches?    A.  I  presume  not, 

Q.  How  then  did  she  collect  the  money.  A,  The  church  of 
the  Holy  Evangelists  was  bought  and  paid  for  wholly  by  con- 
tributions of  private  churchmen.  The  church  of  the  Epiphany 
partly  so ;  the  other  part,  as  I  have  been  informed  by  the  trea- 
surer of  that  society,  was  obtained  by  mortgage  of  the  two 
churches  to  the  Howard  insurance  company  for  |13,000.  When 
the  security  ceased  there  was  no  one  to  pay  the  interest,  and  the 
mortgages  were  foreclosed.  Trinity,  as  I  have  been  informed, 
became  the  purchaser.  The  Holy  Evangelist's  was  sold,  as  I 
have  been  informed,  for  |1 5,000.. 

Q.  W^hat  description  of  people  made  up  the  congregation  of 
St.  Matthew's  ?  A.  They  were  persons  in  humble  circumstances; 
large  proportion  of  them  were  poor.  There  was  not  a  wealthy 
individual  in  the  congregation. 


182 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Q.  What  description  of  persons  made  up  the  congregation  at 
St.  Luke's  1  A.  They  weree  of  a  more  respectable  class,  and 
much  more  means. 

By  Judge  Parker. 

Q.  You  have  stated  that  half  the  allowance  made  to  St, 
Luke's  would  have  sustained  St,  Matthew^s  church.  Do  you 
mean  that  it  would  pay  the  indebtedness  of  the  church  and  the 
mortgage  on  the  parsonage?    A.  Soj  it  could  not  do  that. 

Q.  How  much  would  it  have  taken  to  do  that  and  to  put  the 
church  edifice  in  repair  1  A.  About  $6,000,  That  would  have 
left  the  whole  property  clear.  An  annual  stipend  of  11,000 
from  Trinity,  after  paying  this  indebtedness  and  repairs,  would 
have  paid  its  rector  $1,000  per  year  and  all  ordinary  expenses 
of  the  parish.  The  whole  annual  expenses  of  the  parish  never 
exceeded  $1,700.  I  am  now  rector  of  the  St.  Luke's  church,  at 
Rossville,  Staten  Island,  and  received  an  annual  salary  of  $400 
and  a  parsonage. 

By  the  committee. 

Q.  What  was  St.  Matthew's  worth  at  the  time  it  was  mortgagedl 

A.  It  was  considered  a  chaep  purchase  at  $1,500.  It  has  ^been 
re-conveyed  to  Bishop  Eastburn,  the  donor,  who  originally  gave 
it  to  the  City  Mission  Society. 

Rev.  William  BerriaUy  Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  called  and 
sworn : 

Examination  by  counsel  for  Trinity  Church. 

Q.  How  long  have  you  been  a  minister  of  Trinity  Church  1 
A.  I  am  in  the  46th  year  of  my  ministry  in  that  parish;  I  was 
nearly  seventeen  years  assistant  minister,  two  years  assistant 
rector,  and  have  now  been  upwards  of  twenty-six  years  rector 
of  the  same. 

Q.  State  whether,  from  this  long  connection  with  the  parish 
and  your  official  station,  you  have  become  vere  familiar  with  its 
concerns  1  A.  Legal  questions  being  excepted,  there  are  proba- 
bly few  more  so. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


183 


"Q.  What  particular  facilities  have  you  for  this  kind  of  infor- 
mation from  your  position  as  rector  ?  A.  I  preside  at  every 
meeting  of  the  vestry,  and  as  presiding  officer  all  its  business 
passes  me  as  presiding  officer  in  the  first  instance,  and  if  it  be 
referred  either  to  special  committees  or  the  standing  committee, 
is  generally  more  or  less  known  to  me  in  its  progress,  and  always, 
of  course,  (unless  referred  with  power,)  before  the  final  action 
upon  it. 

Q.  Has  your  attention  been  drawn  to  the  affairs  of  this  cor- 
poration in  any  other  way  which  might  make  you  still  more 
familiar  with  them  ?    A.  A  few  years  since,  I  wrote  the  history 
of  Trinity  Church,  the  materials  for  which  were  drawn  from 
the  most  authentic  and  reliable  sources,  and  with  as  much  re- 
gard to  truthfulness  and  accuracy,  as  honesty  of  purpose  and 
labor  and  care  could  possibly  make  it.    I  have,  since  that,  writ- 
ten a  vindication  of  this  corporation,  in  a  pamphlet  entitled 
Facts  against  Fancy,"  from  the  unjust  and  unmerited  asper- 
sions which  have  been  cast  upon  it,  and  brought  down  the  list 
of  its  gifts  and  bounties  very  nearly  to  the  present  time,    I  have 
also  recently  prepared  a  report  to  the  vestry  on  the  actual  work- 
ing of  the  system  in  our  parish  under  its  present  arrangements, 
which  could  scarcely  fail,  from  its  beneficent  results,  to  satisfy 
every  candid  and  unprejudiced  mind. 

Q.  Being  so  familiar  with  the  affairs  of  Trinity  Church,  why 
did  you  not  testify  before  this  committee  at  its  sessions  in  the 
X5ity  of  New- York  ?  and  why  did  not  all  the  assistant  ministers 
testify  ?  A.  I  was  not  summoned  by  the  committee,  and  only 
three  out  of  eight  of  the  assistant  ministers  were  ,  on  what 
grounds  the  discrimination  was  made  it  is  impossible  for  me  to 
tell. 

Q.  Is  there  any  foundation  for  the  charge  that  the  standing 
committee  possess  nearly  all  the  reliable  knowledge  of  the  aflfairs 
of  the  corporation  ?    A.  In  no  degree  whatever. 

Q.  Of  whom  does  the  standing  committee  consist  and  when  is 
it  chosen  1  A.  The  standing  committee  consists  of  the  Comp- 
troller, the  clerk,  and  six  other  members  of  the  body,  who  are 
selected  from  the  whole  number  of  the  vestry,  consisting  of 
twenty-two  members,  on  account  of  their  supposed  preeminent 


184 


REPORT  or  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


fitness  for  the  proper  consideration  of  tlie  subjects  referred  to 
them.    The  standing  committee  are  elected  every  year. 

Q.  What  is  the  usual  course  of  proceeding  in  regard  to  the 
matters  referred  to  the  standing  committee'?  A.  It  is  merely 
a  matter  of  reference  to  report  on  them  after  due  consideration, 

Q.  Have  the  vestry  in  the  meantime  no  control  in  the  matter 
and  no  voice  nor  influence  in  the  course  of  its  proceedings  1 
A.  So  far  from  this,  a  full  and  circumstantial  written  report  is 
made  by  the  standing  committee  at  each  monthly  meeting  of 
the  vestry,  of  all  that  has  been  considered  and  acted  upon  since 
the  last  meeting  of  the  body,  as  well  as  very  often  upon  matters 
undecided  and  postponed. 

Q.  Are  the  recommendations  of  the  standing  committee  con- 
clusive 1  A.  By  no  means  ;  they  come  back  to  the  body  un- 
doubtedly with  great  weight,  from  the  care  with  which  they 
are  made  up,  but  not  in  all  cases  with  hearty  consent  and  im- 
plicit submission  ;  and  hence,  very  often  when  not  approved  by 
the  vestry,  they  are  either  sent  back  to  the  committee  for  recon- 
sideration or  at  once  rejected. 

Q.  It  is  stated  that  two  of  the  assistant  ministers  of  the  parish 
have  made  several  efforts  to  obtain  a  list  of  the  corporators,  but 
unsuccessfully,  can  you  throw  any  light  on  this  point?  A.  In 
regard  to  one  of  the  cases  which  I  suppose  to  be  alluded  to,  if 
right  in  my  conjecture  I  think  that  I  can.  Eishop  Wainwright 
applied  to  the  rector  for  a  loan  of  the  book  containing  the  names 
of  the  corporators,  and  subsequently  modified  his  application  to 
examine  and  take  a  copy  of  it,  if  he  deemed  it  expedient.  The 
rector  replied,  "  with  respect  to  the  right  of  any  corporator  to 
examine  the  book  there  cannot  be  a  doubt,  but  the  taking  a  copy 
of  the  same  is  a  question  I  do  not  feel  competent  to  decide." 
The  matter  was  submitted  to  the  vestry  who  unanimously  adopted 
the  following  resolution ,  "  Resolved j  That  the  Right  Rev.  Pro- 
visional Bishop  of  the  diocese  be  permitted  to  inspect  the  book 
containing  the  names  of  the  corporators,  and  to  make  such  ex- 
tracts and  copies  as  he  should  think  proper."  This  list  was 
afterwards  drawn  out  and  handed  to  the  Bishop  by  the  sexton 
of  St.  Paul's.    The  application  for  the  list  was  made  to  th 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


185 


rectorj  because  the  book  was  sent  to  him  for  f;he  correction  of 
the  list  by  his  annual  statement  of  the  new  communicants  which 
had  been  added  to  the  parish,  and  the  losses  which  it  had  sus- 
tained by  removals  and  deaths. 

Q.  Is  the  list  of  the  corporators  of  Trinity  Church  kept  in  the 
joint  charge  of  the  Comptroller  and  Eector  1  A.  There  seems 
to  have  been  some  misapprehension  on  this  subject.  The  list  is 
kept  in  the  vestry  office,  and  is  under  the  sole  custody  of  the 
Comptroller.  My  only  agency  in  regard  to  this  list,  is,  to  make 
an  annual  statement  on  the  meeting  of  the  Vestry,  immediately 
preceding  the  election  of  wardens  and  vestrymen  at  Easter;  of 
the  names  of  the  new  communicants,  which  have  been  added  in 
the  interval,  and  the  decrease  of  the  number  in  the  same  period, 
by  death,  or  removal;  in  order  to  render  the  list  more  accurate 
and  complete.  This  is  done  regularly  every  year,  and  how  one 
vestry-man,  if  accustomed  to  be  in  his  place,  and  giving  any 
proper  attention  to  the  business  before  him,  could  have  been  ig- 
norant of  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  done,  or  another,  having 
never  seen  this  li:-t,a  privilege  which  he  had  a  right  to  demand  , 
but,  which  he  never  appears  to  have  claimed;  is  to  me  a  matter 
of  surprise. 

Q.  State,  whether  the  book  containing  this  list,  is  usually 
taken  to  the  place,  where  the  election  of  Wardens  and  Vestry- 
men is  held?  A.  I  know  that  it  is  frequently, if  not  uniformly, 
and  I  believe  that  it  is  open  to  the  inspection  of  any  persons 
present,  who  may  have  the  curiosity  to  examine  it. 

Q.  Can  you  inform  us,  whether  it  was  one  of  the  objects  in 
building  Trinity  Chapel,  to  increase  the  number  of  the  consti- 
tuency of  Trinity  parish]  A.  I  think  that  I  can.  In  the  year 
1848,  observing  the  rapid  changes  that  were  going  on  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  city,  and,  that  in  a  very  short  period,  we  had 
lost  by  removal,  more  than  half  of  our  parishioners,  I  drew  up 
a  very  careful  and  elaborate  report  of  the  comparative  state  of 
the  parish,  and  submitted  it  to  the  vestry,  which  impressed 
them  at  the  time,  and  subsequently  led  to  the  building  of  the 
chapel.  As  some  of  the  motives  and  reasons  which  I  presented, 
have  a  bearing  on  the  matter  in  question,  I  beg  leave  to  make 


186 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


a  brief  extract  Irom  the  report  itself.  "From  1840  to  1848, 
three  hundred  and  thirty-five  families  and  seventy  individuals, 
appear  to  have  left  the  parish.  Of  these  a  great  part  were 
born  and  brought  up  in  it,  and  completely  identified  with  it, 
anxious  for  its  growth,  jealous  of  its  interests,  accustomed  to  its 
arrangements,  attached  to  its  usages,  friendly  to  its  clergy, 
and  to  each  other,  and  linked  to  it  by  such  sacred  and  en- 
dearing associations,  as  nothing  but  the  force  of  circumstances 
could  have  induced  them  to  sever.  Many  of  them,  also,  from 
their  social  position,  their  professional  standing,  their  educa- 
tion, their  wealth,  and  their  influence,  as  well  as  from  their 
sound  churchmanship,  their  unaffected  piety  and  moral  worth, 
gave  a  greater  degree  of  lustre  and  dignity,  both  in  the  eyes 
of  the  world  and  the  church,  to  the  ancient  and  venerable 
corporation  with  which  they  were  connected.  But  this  was 
not  all.  There  was  then  a  wider  range  than  there  is  now, 
for  the  choice  of  distinguished,  upright,  and  intelligent  vestry- 
men, who  might  be  qualified  to  administer  the  sacred  and  im- 
portant trust  committed  to  their  charge  with  a  becoming  libe- 
rality, and  yet  with  such  wisdom  and  prudence  as  not  to  impair 
in  a  day  what  might  be  useful  to  the  church  for  ages  to  come." 
The  purpose,  therefore,  was  perfectly  reasonable  and  natural, 
and  such,  it  would  seem,  as  every  pious  and  judicious  mind 
would  sanction  and  approve;  to  regain  and  preserve  tried  and 
attached  triends,  to  keep  up  the  standard  of  our  constituency  to 
the  elevation  which  it  had  always  maintained,  and  to  enlarge  the 
means  of  our  usefulness  to  others.  It  was  not  supposed  that  the 
new  chapel  would  be  entirely  filled  with  those  who  were  already 
corporators  as  pew  owners  in  the  other  churches  of  the  parish, 
nor  has  it  turned  out  so,  but  that  there  would  also  be  an  addi- 
tion to  their  number,  at  least  as  communicants,  among  the  new- 
comers. This  is  a  simple  and  unvarnished  statement  of  the  mo- 
tives and  reasons  by  which  the  vestry  were  actuated  in  the  erec- 
tion of  Trinity  chapel. 

Q.  What  can  you  say  on  the  subject  of  the  establishment  of 
free  churches  in  the  city  of  New-York,  and  the  aid  that  Trinity 
church  lias  afforded  them  ?    A.  The  plan  of  free  churches  in  our 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


187 


communion  in  this  country,  is  a  very  recent  alfair,  and  altogether 
experimental,  and  with  the  exception  of  the  church  of  the  Holy 
Communion,  and  one  or  two  others,  nearly  all  that  has  been  done 
in  their  behalf  in  this  city,  has  been  done  by  Trinity  Church. 

Q.  It  is  stated  that  it  does  not  appear  from  the  report  of 
Trinity  Church  that  it  has  ever  built  and  free  church?  Has  It 
done  anything  equivalent  ?  A.  Though  that  may  be  true,  she 
has  nevertheless  done  what  may  be  regarded  as  a  fair  equiva- 
lent. The  grants  of  |14,000,  towards  the  Church  of  the  Nativity, 
seems  to  be  passed  over  slightly,  as  if  it  were  a  trifling  affair.  I 
doubt,  however,  whether  if  it  were  put  up  for  sale  to-morrow,  it 
would  bring  much  more  than  Trinity  has  bestowed  on  it. 

Q.  What  has  Trinity  done  in  regard  to  St.  George's  chapel,  in 
Beekman-street]  A.  Through  her  instrumentality  it  was  res- 
cued from  destruction  when  it  was  about  to  be  razed  to  the 
ground.  The  liberality  and  grace  of  this  transaction,  however, 
seemed  to  have  been  lost  sight  of  in  the  report  of  the  committee 
of  the  Senate,  from  an  error,  as  they  suppose,  in  the  report  of 
the  committee  of  the  vestry. 

Q.  Explain,  if  you  please  your  meaning  on  this  point  ?  A.  The 
vestry  of  St.  George's  wished  a  release  of  the  condition  on  which 
the  grant  of  lands  from  Trinity  church  was  made  to  St. 
George's,  in  order  that,  being  entirely  unfettered,  they  might  be 
sold  to  more  advantage.  This  was,  that  there  should  be  always 
a  good  and  sufficient  Protestant  Episcopal  church  kept  up  in 
Montgomery  ward.  An  arrangement  had,  therefore,  been  made 
between  a  committee  of  the  vestry  of  Trinity  church  and  a  com- 
mittee of  the  vestry  of  St.  George's,  that,  upon  the  release  of  this 
condition,  the  latter  should  deposit  ten  per  cent  of  the  purchase 
money  arising  out  of  the  sale  of  a  portion  of  their  lands,  for  the 
purpose  of  carrying  out  this  object,  and  allowing  St.  George's 
chapel  to  be  sold. 

When  the  report  of  this  arrangement  came  in,  I  expressed  my 
great  repugnance  to  it,  as  I  had  worshipped  there  in  my  youth; 
and  in  this  feeling,  I  remember,  Mr.  Verplanck,  Chief  Justice 
Jones,  and  Gen.  Dix  entirely  sympathised  with  me.    It  was, 


188 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


therefore,  sent  back  to  the  committee  for  reconsideration.  The 
church  was  valued,  by  the  vestry  of  St.  George's,  at  $50,000. 
With  their  consent,  the  vestry  of  Trinity  church  agreed  to  take 
an  abatement  of  $25,000  in  the  price  of  the  chapel,  in  lieu  of 
the  obligation  into  which  St.  George's  had  just  entered,  and 
thus  the  venerable  edifice  was  saved  from  destruction,  and  the 
condition  of  the  gift  fulfilled.  The  relief  which  was  thus 
given  to  St.  George's  from  the  harrassing  and  expensive  claims 
of  pew  owners  in  the  chapel  in  Beekman-street,  and  owners  of 
vaults  in  the  ground  around  it,  in  case  the  church  had  been 
torn  down,  and  the  land  disposed  of  for  more  ordinary  purposes ^ 
and  the  sum  that  would  have  arisen  out  of  the  reservation  of 
ten  per  cent  of  the  purchase  money  in  the  sale  of  a  considerable 
number  of  their  most  valuable  lots,  were  regarded,  I  believe,  at 
the  time,  on  both  sides,  as  a  fair  equivalent  for  the  deduction  of 
$25,000  from  the  price  which  was  asked  for  the  chapel.  It  was, 
therefore,  for  a  full  and  valuable  consideration  that  this  deduc- 
tion was  made  ot  $25,000,  and  not  merely  for  "the  worth  of  the 
vote;"  though  this  valuable  consideration  could  not  have  been 
obtained  without  it. 

Q.  Beside  the  payment  of  assessments,  repairs,  alterations  and 
other  expenses,  by  Trinity  Church,  has  anything  else  been  done 
for  St.  George's  in  Beekman-street  ?  A.  It  has  relieved  the  con- 
gregation entirely  from  the  support  of  their  minister,  and  as- 
sumed the  payment  of  the  whole  salary  itself;  thus  enabling 
it  to  become  a  free  church,  in  a  part  of  the  city  where  one  was 
much  needed. 

Q.  It  is  stated  that  it  appears  from  the  report  of  the  commit- 
tee of  the  vestry,  while  nineteen  churches  not  free  have  been 
aided  in  their  support,  in  the  city  of  New- York,  within  the  last 
five  years,  no  mention  is  made  of  building,  enlarging  and  en- 
dowing them.  How  is  this  ?  A.  If  it  be  so  stated,  it  must  have 
been  from  mere  oversight;  as  some  certainly  have  been  aided  in 
that  way. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


189 


Q.  Which  are  they  ?  A.  Going  back  but  a  little  way  beyond 
the  prescribed  limits,  the  following  grants  have  been  made  : 

June  12,  1848,  the  Holy  Evangelists,   $6,500  00 

April  12,  1848,  Free  Church  ot  the  Epiphany,   6,500  00 

St  George's  Chapel,  for  assessments,  repairs,  altera- 
tions, &c.,  in  addition  to  the  purchase  money,. . .  5,660  30 
June  28,  1847,  Church  of  the  Nativity,  towards 

building  the  same,   5,000  00 

November  26,  1849,       "          "    4,000  00 

Grace  Church,  Brooklyn,  towards  the  debt  incurred 
in  its  building,  five  annual  instalments  of  $1,000 

each,   5,000  00 

March  21,  1853,  Church  of  the  Annunciation,   25,000  00 

April  9,  1855,  Church  of  the  Redeemer,  at  York- 

ville,   9,000  00 

January  9,  1854,  St.  Mark's,  Williamsburgh,   6,000  00 

And  coming  a  little  this  side  of  the  limit  of  5  years, 

Free  Church  of  the  Holy  Innocents,   5,000  00 

Church  ol  St.  John  the  Baptist,   15,000  00 

Making  together,   $92,660  30 


Q.  A  question  is  made  as  to  the  endowment  ot  churches  in 
the  city  of  New-York,  by  the  said  corporation,  within  the  last 
five  years.  What  have  you  to  say  about  such  restriction  as  to 
time '?  A.  Had  the  instructions  of  the  committee  been  a  little 
more  enlarged  as  to  time,  and  a  little  more  comprehensive  in 
their  range,  so  as  to  include  Williamsburgh  and  Brooklyn,  which 
are  almost  virtually  a  part  of  New-York,  it  would  be  seen  from 
the  foregoing  statement  that  there  are  no  less  than  five  free 
churches,  and  five  not  free,  that  have  been  aided  in  the  building, 
enlarging,  or  endowing  of  the  same.  And  that  the  aggregate 
amount  of  these  grants  for  such  purposes  is  $92,660.30. 

Q.  Has  Trinity  done  nothing  more  in  behalf  of  free  churches 
than  you  have  already  stated  1  A.  She  has  made  annual  allow- 
ances towards  their  support,  to  the  following  churches  :  the 
church  of  the  Nativity,  the  Epiphany,  the  Holy  Evangelists,  the 
Holy  Martyrs,  the  Good  Shepherd,  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  the 


190 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Holy  Innocents,  St.  Simons,  St.  Timothy,  St.  Cornelius,  St.  Bar- 
nabas, and  the  Seamen's  Mission  Churches  of  the  Church  of  the 
Saviour  and  the  Holy  Comforter. 

Q.  What  were  the  amounts  of  these  annual  allowances  1 
A.  They  have  varied  according  to  the  several  necessities  and 
circumstances  of  each  particular  case,  but  range  from  $200  to 
$1,200  per  annum. 

Q.  Could  these  free  churches,  in  your  opinion,  have  been  sus- 
tained without  the  aid  from  Trinity  Church  ?  A.  I  think  that 
most  of  them  would  have  languished,  and  been  much  less  effec- 
tive in  their  operations  than  they  now  are;  and  that  the  rest  of 
them,  in  a  short  time,  would  have  absolutely  perished. 

Q.  How  far  may  Trinity  Church  itself  be  regarded  as  a  free 
church  ?  A.  It  is  so  in  a  great  measure  virtually,  though  not  in 
name.  Tlie  parish  church  is  open  to  all  every  morning  and 
evening  each  day  in  the  year,  almost  literally,  without  money 
and  without  price;  and  both  the  temporal  and  spiritual  wants 
of  the  poor  who  frequent  it,  and  who  live  in  its  neighborhood, 
are  attended  to  with  a  watchfulness  and  kindness  which  have 
been  seldom  equaled  among  us,  and  never  surpassed.  The 
same  thing  may  be  said,  in  a  degree,  both  of  St.  Paul's  and  St. 
John's.  And  even  in  Trinity  chapel,  kind  arrangements  have 
been  made  by  free  sittings,  which  enable  the  rich  and  poor  to 
meet  together  without  any  sense  of  humiliation.  In  the  four 
churches  of  the  parish  there  are  in  effect  about  twelve  or  thir- 
teen hundred  free  sittings. 

Q.  But  has  not  the  number  of  these  free  sittings  been  greatly 
multiplied  from  the  mere  force  of  circumstances,  arising  simply 
out  of  the  non-occupation  of  the  pews  by  their  owners  without 
any  action  of  the  vestry  in  the  matter?  A.  It  was  not  so  in 
regard  to  a  great  number  of  them,  for  it  was  expressly  stipulated 
in  the  renting  ot  the  pews  in  Trinity  chapel,  that  those  who 
hired  them  should  be  exempted  from  all  rent  on  their  pews  in 
the  churches  below,  on  the  condition  that  they  should  be  placed 
at  the  disposal  of  the  vestry 

Q.  And  what  disposition  has  the  vestry  made  of  them  1  A. 
It  has  left  them  entirely  free. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


191 


Q.  What  have  you  to  say  in  regard  to  the  sale  of  Zion 
church,  Christ  church  and  St.  Matthews,  without  any  effort  on 
the  part  of  Trinity  Church  to  prevent  it  and  to  convert  them 
into  free  churches '?  A.  From  the  removal  of  so  many  families 
belonging  to  Zion  church,  and  the  consequent  decrease  of  the 
number  of  Episcopalians  in  that  neighborhood,  the  congregation 
was  greatly  reduced.  All  the  efforts  of  the  active,  zealous  and 
indefatigable  rector  seemed  to  be  fruitless,  and  it  was  constantly 
dwindling  away.  Already,  in  grants,  gifts  and  annual  allow- 
ances, had  Trinity  bestowed  on  Zion  $41,770,  a  sum  larger  than 
that  for  which  it  was  actually  sold.  There  must  necessarily  be 
some  limit  to  her  bounty,  and  especially  in  a  case  like  this 
where  a  fresh  outlay,  even  for  a  free  church,  seemed  to  hold  out 
but  little  promise  of  an  adequate  return.  Christ  church  also 
had  received  from  Trinity  the  still  larger  amount  of  $77,450. 
After  these  lavish  gifts  and  grants,  why  should  not  the  corpora- 
tion of  Christ  church  itself  have  turned  it  into  a  free  church, 
and  not  left  the  reproach  of  neglect  to  be  borne  where  it  did 
not  belong;  with  respect  to  St.  Matthews,  by  the  admission  of  its 
rector,  it  had  fairly  died  out.  In  this  state  of  things  there  seem- 
ed to  be  but  little  occasion  for  the  interposition  of  Trinity 
Church . 

Q.  The  next  enquiry,  according  to  the  resolution  of  the  Hon- 
orable Senate,  whether  any,  and  if  any,  what  appropriations  have 
been  made  by  them  during  the  last  three  years  to  institutions  of 
charity,  benevolence  or  learning,  in  the  city  of  New-York;  to 
this  enquiry  what  answer  have  you  to  make  7  A.  The  simple 
regret  at  the  same  restriction  as  to  place,  the  city  of  New-York, 
and  the  still  narrower  restriction  as  to  time,  that  in  the  enqui- 
ries before  it,  thus  cutting  her  off  in  the  public  mind,  from  the 
grace  and  credit  of  one  of  the  noblest  acts  of  munificence  which 
Trinity  Church,  in  the  vastness  ol  her  bounty,  has  ever  done. 

Q.  What  is  that  ?  A.  The  grant  of  $50,000  to  Geneva  College, 
and  the  arrangement  by  the  church,  to  pay  the  interest  on  that 
sum,  at  six  per  cent,  until  the  principal  should  be  paid;  which 
has  enabled  it  to  become  a  Free  College,  the  first  instance  of 
the  kind,  I  believe,  throughout  our  land. 


192  REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 

Q.  Is  there  any  thing  else  since  the  ample  endowment  of  Co- 
lumbia College,  the  Society  for  promoting  religion  and  learning, 
Trinity  School  and  Hobart  Free  College,  that  Trinity  has  done, 
for  institutions  of  charity,  benevolence,  and  learning?  A.  If 
aid  to  the  board  of  missions,  whose  office  is  established  in  the 
city  of  New- York,  or  to  the  Missionary  Committee  of  this  dio- 
cese, whose  deliberations  are  held  in  the  same,  be  classed  under 
this  head;  I  may  then  mention,  that  $5,000  was  granted  to  the 
former,  on  one  occasion,  in  behalf  of  the  African  mission,  and 
$3,000  at  another,  presented  as  an  offering  on  the  altar  to  the 
latter,  for  the  benefit  of  our  diocesan  mission. 

Q.  When,  however,  was  this?  A.  In  1851,  unfortunately 
again,  a  little  too  soon,  to  come  within  the  very  narrow  limits 
prescribed  by  the  Senate,  for  so  comprehensive  an  inquiry.  It 
may  here  be  as  well  to  account  for  the  comparative  smallness 
of  her  benefactions  in  these  three  years.  Trinity  Church  was 
at  that  very  time  engaged  in  building  a  large,  substantial  and 
expensive  chapel,  for  reasons  which,  as  I  have  already  stated, 
seemed  to  make  it  essential  to  her  well  being.  But,  notwith- 
standing this  temporary  check  to  the  free  course  of  her  boun- 
ties, the  gifts,  grants  and  loans  of  Trinity  Church,  from  the 
close  of  1847,  to  1855,  amounted  to  $331,800.83  exclusive  of  the 
abatement  of  $25,000,  for  reasons  above  stated,  from  the  price 
of  St.  George's. 

Q.  It  is  stated,  that  Trinity  Church  has  never  at  any  time, 
endowed  any  Institution  of  charity,  or  benevolence,  even  for 
her  own  poor.  How  is  this  ?  A.  This  appears  to  me,  a  most 
remarkable  statement.  It  has,  liberally  and  amply  endowed 
Trinity  Charity  School,  which  has  been  doing  immeasurable 
good  to  her  own  poor,  and  others,  from  generation  to  genera- 
tion, and  which,  from  a  munificent  bequest,  of  which  she  is  just 
about  to  come  in  possession,  promises  to  become  one  of  the  most 
important  institutions  in  the  land.  The  testimony  on  this  point, 
comes  from  a  quarter  where  it  was  but  little  to  have  been  ex- 
pected, and  is  calculated  to  leave  a  false  impression  on  the 
public  mind.  Neither  Trinity  parish,  nor  Trinity  corporation, 
have  been  so  unmindful  of  their  own  poor,  as  the  report  of  the 
committee  would  seem  to  imply.    The  communion  alms,  which, 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


193 


in  other  churches,  are  often  appropriated  to  mere  general  pur- 
poses, are  in  this  parish,  applied  exclusively  to  the  relief  of  the 
temporal  and  spiritual  necessities  of  the  poor.  The  private  con- 
tributions of  individuals,  for  the  same  benevolent  purposes,  in 
connection  with  our  parochial  charities,  the  Dorcas  societies,  the 
Industrial  schools,  and  the  Parish  schools,  bear  some  reasonable 
proportion  to  the  ability  of  our  people.  Besides  these,  there 
are  annual  and  occasional  collections  in  the  Parish,  for  St.  Luke's 
Home,  the  Orphan's  Home,  the  House  of  Mercy,  and  for  the  re- 
lief of  human  suflfering  and  want,  in  other  forms.  These,  ex- 
clusive of  the  collections  for  the  House  of  Mercy,  which  are  now 
in  progress,  amounting  in  the  last  conventional  year,  to  between  7 
and  $8,000.  In  addition  to  this,  Trinity  Church  corporation, 
makes  an  annual  contribution  of  |2,000  towards^the  communion 
fundi  to  supply  the  deficiencies  in  the  offerings  of  the  people,  on 
account  of  the  altered  condition  of  things  in  the  parish.  It 
appropriates  nearly  $1,600  a  year,  to  lay  agents,  whose  business 
it  is  to  give  needful  assistance  and  counsel  to  the  emigrant,  on 
his  arrival  at  this  port;  to  visit  the  suffering  poor,  and  ascertain 
their  fitness  for  the  bounty  of  the  Church,  and  to  search  out  the 
ignorant,  for  religiou-s  instruction.  It  expends  about  $1 ,000  a  year 
on  the  Parish  school  of  St.  PauPs  chapel,  and  it  likewise  em- 
powers the  Rector,  with  unlimited  discretion,  to  give  orders  for 
the  free  burial  of  the  poor,  of  our  own  congregations,  as  well  as 
of  others,  a  privilege  which  is  very  frequently  sought,  and  in 
almost  all  cases,  cheerfully  granted  alike  to  all. 

Q.  It  is  said  that  there  is  partizanship  in  the  grants  which 
Trinity  Church  has  made.  Is  there  any  truth  in  this  charge? 
A.  As  a  christian  man  and  a  christian  minister,  I  declare  that  I 
have  never  heard  one  which  appears  to  be  more  unfounded  and 
unjust,  I  have  for  tw^enty-eight  years  as  assistant  rector  and 
rector,  presided  at  the  meetings  of  the  vestry,  and  I  have  never 
heard  a  syllable  from  any  member  of  that  body  in  any  applica- 
tion before  them  wiiich  would  warrant  the  charge  that  it  would 
be  determined  on  partizan  grounds.  What  influence  the  differ- 
ence of  opinion  may  exert  on  individual  minds  it  is  impossible 

13 


194 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


to  tell ;  but  I  know  very  well  that  the  question  never  comes  up 
nor  is  even  alluded  to  in  the  vestry  itself. 

Q.  How  far  would  this  distinction  of  partiality  in  the  grants 
themselves  be  proved  by  a  reference  to  the  parties  to  whom  they 
were  madel  A.  So  far  as  the  city  of  New-York  is  concerned,  it 
would  be  a  distinction  without  a  difference;  for  with  two  single 
exceptions,  all  the  churches  in  New-York,  amounting  to  the  num- 
ber of  fifty,  have  been  sharers  of  her  bounty.  The  following  list  of 
all  the  church  corporations  in  the  city  of  New-York,  is  taken 
from  the  journals  of  the  convention.  Those  not  marked  with  a 
star  have  been  aided  by  Trinity  Church.  It  will  be  seen  there 
are  but  two  in  the  list  that  have  not  received  aid  from  Trinity. 
The  one,  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion,  that  was  built  by 
the  relict  of  the  late  John  Roger.>,  the  other  is  the  Church  of  the 
Incarnation,  that  occupies  the  building  erected  by  Grace  Church 
for  a  free  church. 

New- York  City  and  County. 
Advent,  All  Angels,  All  Saints,  Annunciation,  Ascension, 
Calvary,  Christ,  Crucifixion,  Emmanuel,  Ephiphany,  Holy  Com- 
forter, Our  Saviour,  Good  Shepherd,  Grace,  Holy  Apostles,  *Holy 
Communion,  Holy  Evangelists,  Holy  Innocents,  Holy  Martyrs, 
^Incarnation,  Intercession,  Messiah,  Nativity,  Redeemer,  Re- 
demption, St.  Andrew's,  St.  Ann's,  St.  Barnabas,  St.  Bartholo- 
mew, St.  Clement's,  St.  Cornelius,  St.  Esprit,  St.  George's,  St. 
George  the  Martyr,  St.  James,  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  St.  John 
the  Baptist,  St.  Jude's,  St.  Luke's,  St.  Mark's,  St.  Mary's,  St. 
Matthew's,  St.  Michael's,  St.  Peter's,  St.  Philip's,  St.  Simon's, 
St.  Stephen's,  St.  Thomas,  St.  Timothy's,  Transfiguration. 

Q,  But  may  not  this  aid  have  been  rendered  in  different  de- 
gree ?  A.  It  would  be  exceedingly  difficult  to  make  a  compari- 
son from  actual  facts,  but  I  think  that  I  may  venture  to  say  very 
safely,  that  if  the  aggregate  amount  of  the  favors  and  benefits 
received  from  Trinity  by  those  churches  whose  rectors  and  ves- 
tries are  supposed  not  to  sympathise  with  her  in  her  views,  were 
set  against  the  amount  received  by  those  whose  rectors  and  ves- 
tries cordially  do^  that  the  groundless  charge  of  undue  partiality 
would  be  still  more  apparent.  In  this  comparative  estimate, 
however,  must  be  included,  what  the  corporation  has  dona 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


195 


for  St.  Mark's  church,  Grace  church,  and  St.  George's,  whose 
rectors,  if  we  may  judge  from  their  evidence  in  the  present 
inquiry,  appear  to  have  had  no  great  good  will  towards  Trinity 
Church,  though  with  more  reason  for  kind  feeling  and  grateful 
recollection  than  all  others. 

Q.  Have  you  met  with  any  instances  among  those  called 
"  low  "  churchmen,  who  have  viewed  this  matter  in  a  different 
light  ?  A.  I  have  with  one,  which  is  somewhat  striking.  A 
few  years  since,  a  frank  and  high-minded  clergyman,  who 
prides  himself  on  his  low  churchmanship,  but  who  is  as  liberal 
in  his  feelings  towards  the  views  of  others  as  he  is  honest  in  his 
own,  after  having  read  the  history  of  Trinity  Church,  expressed 
to  me  his  amazement  at  the  extent  of  her  bounties  I  remarked 
to  him,  however,  that  he  would  perceive  they  were  indiscrimi- 
nately distributed,  without  regard  to  difference  of  opinion, 
among  those  who  received  them.  And  what  if  they  had  not 
been,  he  earnestly  leplied',  had  not  Trinity  Church  a  perfect 
right  to  do  what  she  pleased  with  her  own,  I  am  sure  I  would 
have  done  so. 

Q.  Hearsay  evidence  has  been  received  to  show  that  a  certain 
application  for  relief  to  the  vestry  of  Trinity  church  had  been 
repelled  by  the  Comptroller,  on  the  score  that  the  parish,  in 
whose  behalf  it  was  made,  had  not  voted  in  favor  of  Bishop 
Onderdonk  ;  what  do  you  say  to  this  ?  A.  If  this  statement  be 
true,  the  subject,  nevertheless,  from  its  peculiar  delicacy,  has 
never  been  touched  on  in  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  and  I  am 
very  sure  that  it  was  never  made  the  ground  of  any  action  in 
this  body,  either  in  one  way  or  the  other. 

Q.  It  is  stated  that  the  active  liberality  and  zeal  of  the  parish- 
ioners of  Trinity  have  been  so  far  weakened,  that  their  four 
congregations  united  do  less  than  some  single  independent  con- 
gregations in  the  same  city,  with  little  or  no  endowment.  Is 
this  comparison  wxll  founded  and  just  ?  A.  Far  from  it,  I  think. 
It  is  well  known  that  from  the  lower  part  of  the  city,  in  which 
Trinity  and  St.  Paul's  are  situated,  and  even  as  high  up  as  St. 
John's,  nearly  all  the  people  of  wealth  and  condition  have  remo- 
ved  and  gone  up  town.  Trinity  church,  though  well  attended 
is  almost  entirely  filled  with  strangers,  and  the  poor,  only  a  very 


196 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


scanty  remnant  of  the  former  congregation  remaining.  The 
same  may  be  said,  in  a  measure,  of  St.  Paul's,  and  in  some 
degree,  of  St.  John's  The  united  ability  of  all  three,  for  the 
exercise  of  charity,  I  do  not  believe,  is  equal  to  that  of  the 
congregation  to  which  reference  is  supposed  to  be  made. 

Q.  What  Episcopal  churches,  besides  Trinity,  St.  Paul's  and 
St.  John's  are  left  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city  ?  A.  None  but 
Du  St.  Esprit  and  St.  George's  chapel  in  Beekman  street.  St. 
George's  church  has  gone  up  among  the  rich,  taking  its  ample 
endowment  with  it.  Grace  church,  with  all  its  parish  and  indi- 
vidual wealth,  has  done  the  same;  and  so  likewise  have  Christ 
church  and  the  Ascension  ♦  leaving  their  deserted  poor  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  city,  almost  entirely  to  the  care  ot  Trinity; 
and  then  ^he  is  taunted  with  the  scantiness  of  her  collections, 
from  those  who,  for  the  most  part,  have  comparatively  but 
little  to  give. 

Q.  Is  it  true,  as  charged,  that  a  general  torpor  pervades  the 
whole  concern.  A.  If  there  were  even  more  ground  for  the 
charge  than  there  is  in  regard  to  temporal  matters,  it  is  spirit- 
ually full  of  life  and  activity.  Notwithstanding  all  the  re- 
movals and  all  the  changes  which  have  taken  place,  it  has  not 
for  years  been  in  a  more  prosperous  condition.  It  will  appear 
from  the  report  of  the  Rector  made  recently  to  the  Vestry,  that 
in  the  course  of  the  last  conventional  year,  33  adults  and  400 
children  were  baptised  in  the  parish,  that  176  persons  were  con- 
firmed, that  there  are  1,100  communicants,  that  there  were  in 
the  Sunday,  parish  and  industrial  schools,  1,307  scholars  and 
teachers;  and  that,  in  the  same  period,  there  were  about  2,000 
Sunday  and  week-day  services  in  the  parish. 

Q.  But  is  not  this  state  of  things  in  the  parish,  in  some  mea- 
sure, owing  to  the  action  of  the  Senate  ?  A.  Neither  the  fear 
nor  favor  of  man  had  anything  to  do  with  it.  The  motives  to 
this  activity  and  zeal,  I  humbly  trust,  came  from  a  higher 
power.  In  the  fall  of  1855,  a  committee  was  appointed  by  the 
vestry  on  the  state  of  the  parish  to  consider  and  report  thereon, 
and  with  a  more  especial  view  to  its  future  arrangements  on 
the  completion  of  tlie  new  chapel,  several  meetings  were  held  on 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


197 


the  subject,  and  all  the  leading  features  of  the  system  were 
marked  out  and  settled,  according  to  my  recollection  and  belief, 
before  the  action  of  the  Senate. 

Q.  It  is  also  stated,  apparently  as  an  instance  of  the  same  torpor 
that  there  is  so  little  interest  taken  in  the  vestry  elections,  and 
that  in  eight  out  of  the  past  ten  years,  an  average  of  hardly  one 
in  ten  of  the  corporators  cared  to  appear.  Do  you  consider  this 
the  fair  conclusion  ?  A.  On  the  contrary,  I  think  it  the  very 
reverse.  It  seems  to  me  a  decisive  proof  of  the  satisfaction  and 
confidence  of  the  corporators,  in  the  general  administration  of 
the  affairs  of  the  parish.  Did  a  ditferent  sentiment  prevail, 
whatever  their  sluggishness,  it  would  soon  draw  them  out  as  all 
experience  shows. 

Q.  Do  you  think  that  Trinity  Church  has  done  its  utmost  to 
make  the  capital  of  the  property  of  that  corporation  available, 
for  the  founding,  or  support,  or  promotion  of  religious,  charita- 
ble or  educational  institutions  or  purposes  ?  A.  Making  due  al- 
lowance for  unavoidable  diversities  of  opinion  and  the  fallibility 
of  human  judgment,  and  looking  beyond  the  mere  present  mo- 
ment to  perpetuity  in  the  future,  I  think  that  it  has.  I  have 
never  known  any  body  of  men  act  more  thoughtfully,  more  up- 
rightly and  conscientiously,  than  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  in 
the  administration  of  its  affairs,  nor  any  which,  in  its  general 
character,  surpassed  it  in  wisdom  and  intelligence. 


Wednesday  Afternoon,  Feh.  \^th. 

Present — Senate  committee,  Messrs.  Spencer,  Noxon  and 
Ramsey.  Counsel  for  Trinity,  Judge  Parker  and  0.  Meads,  Esq. 

Puv.  John  Henry  Hobart  recalled  and  cross-examined  by  coun- 
sel for  Trinity  Church — Q.  So  far  as  your  knowledge  extends, 
what,  during  the  time  of  your  connection  with  the  parish,  have 
been  the  policy,  desire  and  action  of  Trinity  church  in  relation 
to  making  the  property  of  that  corporation  available  for  the 
founding,  support  or  promotion  of  religious,  charitable  or  edu- 
cational institutions  or  purposes  ?   A.  I  believe,  so  far  as  I  have 


198 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


knowledge,  that  the  vestry  have  acted  in  good  faith,  to  the  best 
of  their  judgment,  in  order  to  make  their  property  available  for 
the  purposes  named  in  the  question. 

Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Potter^  recalled  by  counsel  for  Trinity — 
Q.  Have,  or  have  not  the  grants  of  Trinity  church  made  to  other 
churches,  in  the  form  of  grants  of  money,  secured  by  mortgages 
or  otherwise,  or  in  the  form  of  annual  stipends,  had  the  effect  to 
promote  dependency ,feebleness  and  deadness  in  the  parishes  thus 
aided,  or  what  has  been  tlie  effect  of  such  grants  in  each  of  t^iose 
forms  of  grants  upon  the  internal  condition  of  the  parishes  aided  ? 
A.  I  do  not  see  why  the  assistance  spoken  of  in  the  question  should 
be  injurious  to  the  parishes  in  the  respect  mentioned  in  the  ques- 
tion; nor  do  I  believe  that  it  has  been;  but  on  the  contrary,  bene- 
ficial. It  has  encouraged  parishes  to  exertion  in  many  instances, 
when  otherwise  they  would  have  been  unable  to  maintain  them- 
selves. The  feeling  often  has  been,  I  think,  that  the  parishes,  after 
receiving  such  aid,  have  laid  themselves  under  special  obligations 
to  exert  themselves.  If  it  was  an  absolute  grant,  with  a  mortgage, 
it  did  not  differ  essentially  from  any  other  gift,  except  that  the 
obligation  spoken  of  was  increased.  If  it  was  an  annual  stipend,  it 
was  like  the  stipend  granted  by  the  missionary  committee  of  the 
diocese,  and  those  annual  stipends  have  been  provided  for  by  the 
collective  wisdom  of  the  cliurch  in  the  diocese,  as  a  part  of  her  or- 
ganised system.  It  must  imply  an  opinion,on  the  part  of  the  whole 
church  in  the  diocese,  that  that  mode  of  rendering  assistance  is 
a  useful  mode.  I  have  known  many  cases  where  the  question  of 
a  church  being  able  to  establish  itself  in  a  given  community,  or 
being  able  to  maintain  itself,  seemed  to  depend  upon  the  assist- 
ance it  received  from  Trinity  church. 

Q.  Will  you  explain  more  fully  your  meaning  in  regard  to 
the  nature  of  your  supervision  over  the  affairs  of  Trinity  Church  7 
A.  It  is  with  the  affairs  of  Trinity  Church,  as  with  those  of 
every  other  parish  in  the  diocese.  The  Rector,  Wardens,  and 
Vestrymen,  are  an  integral  portion  of  the  church  of  wliich  I 
am  an  overseer,  and  I  cannot  conceive,  that  in  any  part  of  their 
official  conduct,  they  are  exempt  Irom  a  certain  general  re- 
sponsibility to  me,  nor  is  the  idea  of  such  responsibilty  des- 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


199 


troyed  by  the  fact  that  I  do  not  supervise  their  appropriations, 
that  my  assent  is  not  necessary  to  the  validity  of  their  grants, 
and  that  they  make  no  report  of  their  grants  to  me.  Since  I 
have  been  in  office,  a  majority  of  the  vestrymen  of  a  parish, 
(not  Trinity  church,)  laid  before  me,  charges  against  their 
rector,  of  misconduct,  in  regard  to  the  funds  of  the  parish.  I 
ordered  a  committee  of  inquiry.  Had  that  committee  found  the 
charges  warranted,  in  appearance,  by  the  facts,  the  Rector  would 
havabeen  put  upon  his  trial ;  but  they  were  found  to  be  ground- 
less. The  transactions  of  the  parish,  out  of  which  this  diffi- 
culty arose,  were  not  of  a  nature  to  be  included  in  the  usual 
reports  to  me,  nevertheless,  the  case  shows  tliat  there  was  a  re- 
sponsibility to  the  head  of  the  diocese,  which  extended  to  all 
those  unreported  transactions.  Again,  during;  the  Episcopate  of 
my  immediate  predecessor,  there  was  a  case,  in  which  a  rector 
charged  his  vestry  with  misconduct  in  the  management  of  the 
funds  of  the  parish.  The  Bishop  ordered  a  committee  of  in- 
quiry. I  was  the  chairman  of  the  committee.  Witnesses  came 
before  us,  the  conduct  of  the  Vestry  was  inquired  into,  and  a 
report  made  to  the  Bishop,  that  the  allegations  of  the  rector  were 
unsupported  by  the  facts.  In  this  case,  also,  the  transactions 
in  question  were  not  of  that  class  which  are  ever  included  in  the 
parochial  reports  to  the  Bishop.  Nevertheless,  they  were  so 
far  under  his  general  supervision,  that  there  was  room  for  his 
interposition  if  a  special  difficulty  should  require  it.  Let  me 
further  illustrate;  I  am  to  oversee  the  conduct  of  the  clergy. 
It  is  the  duty  of  a  clergyman  to  visit  his  flock,  but  he  does  not 
report  to  me  the  number,  or  frequency  of  his  visits,  and  no 
doubt  there  might  be  some  degree  of  neglect,  without  my  know- 
ledge, or  without  my  considering  it  a  case  for  special  interfe- 
rence. So,  any  parish  may  commit  many  errors  in  church  build- 
ing and  in  the  management  of  its  funds,  witliout  my  knowledge, 
and  without  my  thinking  it  a  case  for  interference,  even  if  I 
was  aware  of  it.  But  this  does  not  at  all  destroy  the  idea,  so 
familiar  to  the  mind  of  every  churchman,  the  idea  I  had  in 
my  mind,  in  my  former  testimony,  tliat  the  rector,  wardens, 
and  vestrymen  of  a  parish,  cannot  act  in  any  official  way,  in 
any  matter  pertaining  to  church  property,  and  the  interests  of 


CO 


REPOET  OF    SELECT  COMMITTEE 


the  church,  without  a  certain  general  responsibility  to  the  head 
of  the  diocese  ;  and,  as  in  the  cases  I  have  just  cited,  that  re- 
sponsiblility,  is  not  a  mere  theory,  but  a  practical  reality. 

By  the  Senate  committee  : 

Q.  I  should  understand,  sir,  your  first  answer  to  imply,  that 
you  think  it  an  advantage  to  a  church  to  have  its  property 
under  mortgage,  do  you  so  intend  the  reply  1  A.  As  I  have  be- 
fore stated  in  my  testimony,  I  consider  the  mortgage  a  nullity, 
except  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the  sale  of  the  church 
property  and  its  alienation  from  its  sacred  use  and,  therefore,  I 
consider  it  no  disadvantage,  and  if  I  had  a  positive  opinion  ta 
give  I  should  incline  to  give  the  opinion  that  it  was  an  advan- 
tage. I  take  it  for  granted  that  that  opinion  cannot  be  construed 
to  be  an  opinion  in  favor  of  an  incumbrance  by  mortgage  in  the 
abstract. 

Q.  Are  you  aware  that  under  such  mortgages  interest  ac- 
cumulates, and  that  it  is  in  the  power  of  the  holders  to  collect 
them  ?    A.  I  am. 

Q.  Do  you  by  your  answer  in  explanation,  mean  to  be  under- 
stood that  yon  have  any  charge,  direction  or  control,  in  any 
way  or  manner,  over  the  funds  administered  by  the  corporation  of 
Trinity  Church!  A.  I  have  already  stated  in  a  previous  an- 
swer that  I  have  no  immediate  oversight. 

Q.  Have  you  any  remote  oversight  1  A.  My  assent,  I  have 
already  stated,  is  not  essential  to  the  validity  of  a  grant ;  I  am 
not  generally  cognizant  of  the  internal  or  financial  affairs  of  that 
or  any  other  parish,  but  I  must  think,  as  is  implied  in  my  former 
answer,  that  all  the  official  conduct  of  vestries  is,  in  a  general 
ecclesiastical  sense,  which  I  have  partly  explained  in  a  former 
answer,  subject  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  head  of  the  diocese. 

Q.  Do  you  regard  the  funds  controled  by  this  corporation  in 
the  same  light  you  do  the  financial  affairs  of  other  church  cor- 
porations, not  having  large  estates.  A.  In  one  respect  I  do. 
They  are  just  as  much  the  exclusive  property  of  that  corporation 
fts  the  property  of  any  other  church  is.    The  magnitude  of  the 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH.  201 

property  places  it  in  certain  general  moral  relations  to  the 
diocese  at  large,  which  have  been  very  largely  recognized  by 
the  parish. 

Q.  Do  yoii'  regard  your  control  over  this  corporation  and  all 
others  in  this  diocese  alike.  A.  It  has  never  occurred  to  me 
that  there  was  any  difference. 

Q.  For  a  misapplication  or  mal-administration  of  her  fund, 
what  discipline  would  you  inflict  ?  A.  I  have  already  stated 
that  in  the  case  of  every  parish  there  may  be  many  errors,  many 
omissions  of  duties,  which  would  not  call  for  any  interposition. 
What  action  I  might  be  induced  take  under  particularly  extreme 
circumstances,  I  certainly  cannot  foresee. 

Q.  I  do  not  ask  you  what  action  you  might  take.  I  ask  you 
what  power  you  have,  by  virtue  of  your  office  as  bishop  ?  A.  I 
have  the  power  by  canon  of  looking  into  the  affairs  of  the 
parishes  I  visit.  I  have  the  power,  by  virtue  of  my  office,  of 
advice  and  admonition.  If  there  be  gross  misconduct  in  the 
parish,  it  must  be  either  with  or  without  the  connivance  of  the 
rector.  It  is  not  easy  to  be  without.  If  it  amounts  to  crime  or 
immorality,  it  of  course  exposes  the  rector  to  be  dealt  with  as  in 
the  case  I  have  mentioned  in  a  former  answer. 

Q.  Is  not  all  your  power  of  a  spiritual  and  ecclesiastical 
nature  ?   A.  Yes,  sir. 

Examination  by  counsel  for  Trinity.  Rev.  William  Berrian 
re-called  : 

Q.  Can  you  tell  what  gifts  Trinity  Church  has  made  for  the 
founding,  or  support  or  promotion  of  religious,  charitable  or  edu- 
cational institutions  or  purposes,  and  what  is  the  amount  of  such 
gifts  made  prior  to  the  25th  of  January,  1814,  and  what  subse- 
quent to  that  date  ?  A.  The  following  grants  of  land  were  made 
by  Trinity  Church,  prior  to  1814 : 

1786,  3  lots  to  the  senior  pastors  of  the  Presbyterian  congrega- 
tions in  this  city. 

1765,  2  lots  to  the  corporation  for  the  ferry  between  this  city 
and  Paulus  Hook. 

1775,  2  lots  to  the  same  for  a  pier  and  slip  on  the  north  side  of 
Vesey  street. 


202 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


1800,  for  a  market  in  Duane-street;  and  for  another  in  Cliristo- 
pher-street. 

1810,  2  lots  for  a  free  school  in  Hudson-street. 

1752,  grants  of  land,  between  Murray  and  Barclay-streets  and 

extending  from  Church-street  to  the  river,  to  Columbia 

college. 

1748,  Grants  for  the  site  of  Trinity  Church  school. 
1800,  7  lots  to  the  same. 

1802,  32  lots  to  the  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Religion  and 

Learning, 
1795,  28  lots  to  St.  Mark's  church. 
1811,25  lots  to  Grace  church. 

1812,  33  lots  to  St.  George's. 

1795,  5  lots  to  St.  Peter's,  Westchester. 

1807,  3  lots  to  St.  Stephen's. 

1807,  6  lots  to  St.  Michael's  and  St.  James'. 

1813,  4  lots  to  St.  James'. 
1805,4  lots  to  Christ  church. 

108  lots  from  1795  to  1805  inclusive. 
1809,  3   lots  to  St.  George's,  Flushing  ;  3  to  Grace  church, 
Jamaica;  3  to  St.  James',  Newtown;  2  to  St.  Ann's, Brook- 
lyn; 3  to  Trinity,  Utica. 
Grants  in  money  and  a  bond  during  the  same 

period,   $238,220  22| 

1,500  00 

•    $239,720  22| 

The  following  are  the  grants  in  land  by  Trinity  Church,  from 
1814  to  August,  1855  : 

1815,  a  grant  of  land  to  the  Free  School  Society. 
1820,  3  lots  to  St.  Luke's, 
1827,  2  do 

1831,  3  do 

1835,  1  lot  to  the  Ascension. 

1832,  5  lots  to  Trinity  school  at  a  mere  nominal  rent. 

In  money  during  the  same  period,   $998,703  60 

There  may  be  some  discrepancy,  but  if  so  my  statement  un- 
derrates. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


203 


Q.  How  did  you  acquire  the  knowledge  necessary  to  enable 
you  to  make  the  statement  contained  in  your  last  answer'? 
A.  From  a  careful  examination  of  the  minutes  of  the  vestry 
from  1697  to  1855.  When  I  was  in  doubt  I  usually  consulted 
the  officers  of  the  corporation,  the  comptroller  and  clerk,  to 
clear  it  up,  if  they  knew  anything  about  it. 

Q.  Is  the  statement  correct  that  in  addition  to  the  require- 
ments of  the  law,  the  church  required  that  all  persons  desiring 
to  vote  should  give  previous  notice  of  such  desire  to  the  rector  ? 
A.  I  don't  know  of  any  such  requisition. 

Q.  Were  there  any,  and  if  any,  what  Episcopal  church  corpo- 
rations in  the  city  of  New- York,  prior  to  1814,  besides  the  cor- 
poration of  Trinity  Church  1  A.  There  were  nine,  to  wit :  St. 
Mark's,  Christ's,  Grace,  St.  George's,  Du  St.  Esprit,  St.  Stephen's, 
Zion,  St.  Michael's,  and  St.  James'. 

Q.  Did  the  members  of  either  of  these  corporations,  independ- 
ent of  Trinity  Church,  ever  claim  or  t^xercise  the  right  of  voting 
as  corporators  of  Trinity  Church,  before  the  act  of  1814?  A.  I 
never  heard  of  the  exercise;  but  I  think  I  have  heard  of  the 
claim.  I  never  heard  of  the  claim  being  made  but  once  prior 
to  1814. 

Q.  Was  it  granted  at  that  time  ?  A.  I  do  not  think  it  was.  I 
never  heard  that  it  was. 

Q.  Was  such  a  right  ever  claimed  or  exercised  since  1814? 
A.  I  never  knew  it  to  be  claimed  but  on  one  occasion,  that  was 
during  my  rectorship,  when  I  was  presiding.  It  was  not  exer- 
cised. It  was  accompanied  by  a  threat  that  it  would  be  exer- 
cised, but  it  was  never  carried  out.  I  think  it  was  between  ten 
and  fifteen  years  ago.  It  was  by  Mr.  Walter  M.  Rutherford. 
Such  a  right  has  never  been  exercised. 

Q.  Is  the  Kev.  Robert  S.  Rowland  generally  deemed  a  "high" 
churchman,  or  a  "low"  churchman?  A.  He  has  always  been 
reputed  a  "higli"  churchman. 

Q.  Did  the  vestry  in  1813,  to  calm  the  fears  of  the  Legislature 
promise  that  their  funds  should  be  applied  to  the  building  of 


204 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


churches  from  time  to  time  as  the  increase  of  population  de- 
manded; the  control  of  said  churches  to  be  relinquished  to  in- 
dependent vestries,  &c.,  and  suitable  endowments  to  b3  made  1 
A.  I  never  heard  that  they  made  such  a  promise,  nor  knew  any 
thing  about  it  until  I  read  it  in  the  report  of  this  committee. 

By  the  Senate  committee  : 

Q.  You  stated  yesterday  that  a  large  sum  had  been  given  to 
the  church  of  the  Nativity,  I  would  enquire  whether  a  mortgage 
was  taken  for  it?  A.  I  presume  that  it  was,  but  perhaps  not 
for  the  whole  amount.  There  were  two  sums  of  $5,000  at  one 
time  and  $4,000  at  another,  I  presume  that  the  mortgages  were 
given  for  those  two  sums. 

Q.  You  stated  yesterday  that  the  vestry  had  a  meeting,  dis- 
cussed the  subject  and  agreed  to  allow  certain  ministers  to  ex- 
amine the  list  of  corporators;  was  that  the  first  permission  of 
that  kind  that  had  been  given  ?  A.  It  was  the  first  request  that 
had  ever  been  made  to  me,  that  I  remember;  my  answer  was 
that  there  was  no  doubt  of  the  right  of  the  corporators  to  examine 
the  list,  but  to  take  a  copy  of  it,  it  was  not  my  province  to  deter- 
mine; I  brought  the  question  before  the  vestry  as  to  the  right  to 
take  a  copy;  the  vestry  resolved  that  the  bishop  might  make 
such  extracts,  or  take  a  copy  of  the  whole  of  it  if  he  desired.  A 
copy  was  taken  by  the  rector  of  St.  Paul's  and  sent  to  the  bishop. 

Q.  Did  not  St.  George's  and  some  other  churches  named  by 
you,  relinquish  all  right  to  the  property  of  Trinity  Church  and 
all  right  to  interfere  in  its  aifairs?  A.  I  have  always  under- 
stood that  they  had. 

Q.  Did  those  churches  offer  to  vote  after  that  ?  A.  Never, 
that  I  know  of. 

Q.  Did  not  Col.  Troup  represent  Trinity  Church  in  1813,  '14, 
at  Albany  ?  A.  He  was  a  member  of  the  committee  of  seven  on 
the  state  of  the  church,  and  with  full  power  to  make  application 
to  the  Legislature;  the  other  members  were  Richard  Harrison, 
David  M.  Clarkson,  Thomas  Barrow,  Robert  Troup,  Jacob  Le 
Roy,  Peter  Augustus  Jay,  and  Thomas  L.  Ogden. 


205 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


Q.  Is  there  not  a  great  want  of  Episcopal  churches  in  some 
parts  of  the  city  of  New-York  ?  A.  I  would  say  there  is  a  want; 
I  cannot  say  a  great  want,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city,  parti- 
cularly. 

Q.  Did  Trinity  Church  ever  build  a  free  church  ?  A.  She 
has  in  effect;  she  has  not  in  fact.  She  has  given  as  much 
as  would  pay  for  the  church. 

Q.  What  was  the  cost  of  Trinity  Church  1  A.  I  think  it  was 
about  $350,000;  the  chapel  cost  $227,000. 

Q.  Do  you  think  the  Episcopal  church  in  the  city  has  kept 
pace  with  the  increase  of  the  population  of  the  city  1  A.  I  have 
always  considered  it  has. 

Q.  Was  it  not  considered  important  by  the  clergy  of  the  city 
and  particularly  by  Bishop  Wainright,  to  keep  up  Zion  Church, 
at  the  time  it  was  soldi  A.  I  know  it  was  by  him;  but  I  know 
nothing  of  the  opinions  of  others. 

Q.  Did  Bishop  Onderdonk  ever  exercise  or  attempt  to  exer- 
cise any  power  over  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  as  a  vestry '? 
A.  Not  that  I  remember.    I  think  I  can  say  he  did  not. 

Q.  Are  the  recommendations  of  the  standing  committee  ai- 
rways reported  to  the  vestry  ?    A.  Yes. 

Q.  Did  you  ever  know  of  the  recommendations  of  the  stand- 
ing committee  being  overruled  by  the  vestry  1  A.  Scores  of 
times. 

Q.  You  speak  of  a  resolution  having  passed  the  vestry,  in 
relation  to  allowing  Bishop  Wainright  to  take  a  copy  of  a  list 
of  corporators.  .  What  called  for  this  action  on  the  part  of  the 
vestry  1  A.  The  reason  was  the  bishop  wrote  to  me  requesting 
the  list  from  me.  I  replied  that  I  had  no  power  myself  to  lend 
the  book,  though  he  had  the  right  to  examine  it. 

Q.  When  was  it  ?  A.  I  think  it  was  in  1853,  shortly  after  he 
^became  bishop. 

Q.  Had  he  applied  for  it  previously  without  success?  A.  I 
understood  that  he  applied  to  a  clerk  in  the  vestry  office,  who 
declined  as  I  did,  because  he  had  not  the  power  to  do  it. 


206 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Q.  Did  he  ask  to  see  if?    A.  I  do  not  know  ;  I  presume  he 
did.    I  think  he  asked  me  to  see  it. 

Q.  Did  you  show  it  to  him  ?    A.  I  think  not. 

Q.  Why  not  ?  A.  I  have  not  the  custody  of  the  book.  It  is 
not  in  my  office  or  custody. 

Q.  Who  had  it  ?    A.  At  that  particular  time  it  was  with  me. 

Q.  Why  did  you  not  show  it  to  him  ?  A.  I  had  it  for  the 
purpose  of  entering  the  names  of  new  communicants,  and  the 
changes  by  death  and  removal. 

Q.  Did  that  prevent  your  showing  it  to  him  1  A.  I  had  no 
control  in  the  matter.  I  looked  upon  the  book  as  belonging  to 
the  comptroller  and  not  to  me. 

Q.  What  are  your  powers,  if  any,  over  the  books  of  the  corpo- 
ration? A.  I  have  the  sole  custody  of  the  parish  register,  con- 
taining the  records  of  baptisms,  marriages  and  burials;  and  those 
are  the  only  books  over  which  I  have  any  control,  though  they 
are  all  open  to  my  examination. 

Q.  Do  you  know  of  anything  in  the  act  of  incorporation,  or 
rules  of  the  vestry,  to  prevent  your  showing  the  book  to  any 
person  who  applies  to  see  it  ?    A.  I  do  not. 

Q.  Then,  I  again  ask,  why  you  did  not  show  it  to  him  ?  A. 
Because  I  thought  it  was  the  proper  business  of  the  comptroller 
to  let  him  see  it. 

Q.  Why  any  more  proper  for  the  comptroller  than  the  rector? 
A.  Because  the  book  is  one  that  was  under  his  custody.  I  have 
no  other  answer  to  give. 

Q.  Was  it  placed  there  by  law,  or  by  action  of  the  vestry  ? 
A.  By  usage,  and  the  necessity  of  the  case. 

Q.  What  churches  were  enlarged  or  endowed  in  the  city  of 
New-York,  for  the  three  years  prior  to  April  13,  1855  ?  A.  Two; 
the  church  of  the  Annunciation,  $25,000,  and  church  of  the 
Redeemer,  at  Yorkville,  $9,000. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


207 


Q.  At  the  time  St.  Matthew's  made  application  to  Trinity  for 
aid,  was  it  admitted  by  its  rector  that  it  had  fairly  "  died  out?" 
A.  I  understood  it  had,  from  the  testimony. 

Q.  Can  you  state  wdien  the  application,  in  schedule  G,  w^as 
made  to  Trinity  ?  A.  I  do  not  remember  exactly  the  date  of  it; 
less  than  two  years  ago. 

Q.  Had  it  "  died  out  "  then  ?    A.  I  believe  it  had. 

Q.  Do  they  not  state  in  the  application,  that  unless  you  gave 
them  aid,  they  will  cease  to  exist  in  May  following?  A.  It 
appears  to  be  so. 

Q.  Did  you  then  understand,  when  you  received  it,  that  it  was 
already  dead?  A.  I  understood  that  it  was  in  a  low  condition. 
I  knew  it  to  be  so  for  a  long  time  before. 

Q.  Was  her  debt,  as  represented  to  you  in  that  memorial,  more 
than  5^4.,800 — $3,500  of  which  was  on  the  parsonage  ?  A.  It  is 
represented  in  the  application  at  $4,800. 

Q.  Was  the  parsonage  of  that  church  separate  from  the  church  ? 
A.  It  was  on  ground  that  belonged  to  the  church,  and  not 
adjoining  it. 

Q.  Why  do  you  say  the  church  w^.s  in  a  low  condition,  with 
only  a  debt  of  $1,300?  A.  My  impressions  of  its  being  so 
were  made  from  conversations  with  Mr.  Pound,  the  rector,  that 
it  was  in  a  very  languishing  condition. 

Q.  Have  you  stated  the  true  and  only  reason  for  not  giving 
her  aid  ?  A.  I  don't  know  of  any  other,  I  am  not  aware  of 
any  other. 

Q.  Was  not  one  reason  for  refusing  the  aid  that  the  request 
was  disrespectful  in  its  language  ?    A.  I  do  not  know. 

Q.  What  was  the  church  edifice  and  lot  worth,  in  your  judg- 
ment?   A.  I  suppose  $15,000,  perhaps  a  little  more. 

Q.  Why  did  you  not  rescue  her  from  her  embarrassment  ? 
A.  Because  it  was  not  thought  worth  the  expenditure.  It  was 
surrounded  with  other  churches. 


208 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Q.  Do  you  regard  Trinity  Charity  school  as  an  institution  of 
charity  or  benevolence,  within  the  meaning  of  the  resolution 
propounded  by  the  Senate?— (Resolution  was  read.)  A.  I  do, 
in  an  eminent  degree;  I  will  state  the  reason  why.  First,  the 
education  of  our  own  ignorant  poor  children;  in  the  next  place, 
for  a  long  course  of  years  they  were  aided  in  their  clothing  as 
well  as  education,  and  there  are  now  50  to  70  beneficiaries  who, 
in  addition  to  their  instruction,  receive  stipends  from  $20  to  |50 
per  year,  to  help  them  in  their  clothing,  &c.;  it  is  a  day  school. 

Q.  What  are  the  Dorcas  societies  1  A.  Societies  for  making 
garments  for  the  poor.  I  regard  these  as  benevolent  societies; 
these  societies  are  not  aided  by  the  funds  of  Trinity  corporation. 
Industrials  schools  are  those  in  which  the  poor,  especially  girls, 
are  taught  by  the  ladies,  sewing,  and  where  the  garments  are 
given  away  to  the  poor.  They  are  not  endowed  by  Trinity;  one 
of  the  parish  schools  is  endowed  by  Trinity,  the  others  are  sup- 
ported by  private  contributions  of  the  parishioners. 

Q.  Which  do  you  allude  to,  as  being  spiritually  full  of  life 
and  activity.  Trinity  parish,  or  the  Rector,  Wardens  and  Vestry- 
men, in  the  administration  of  her  fund?  A.  I  mean  that  there 
is  great  activity  and  zeal  on  tlie  part  of  the  clergy  of  the  parish, 
and  of  the  congregations  who  unite  in  these  efforts,  and  that  the 
rector,  the  wardens,  and  vestrymen,  heartily  sympathize  with 
them,  and  aid  them  in  the  prosecution  of  this  work. 

Q.  How  do  you  know  the  nine  Episcopal  churches  which  ex- 
isted prior  to  1814,  did  not  vote  for  vestrymen  in  Trinity  parish? 
A.  I  was  very  intimate  with  Bishop  Hobart,  from  1805.  He 
was  very  communicative  to  me,  though  a  young  man,  and  I  have 
no  recollection  of  ever  having  heard  him  say,  that  there  was  any 
exercise  of  such  privilege. 

Q.  Did  you  ever  hear  him  say,  they  did  not?  A.  No;  I  have 
been  in  the  parish  since  the  latter  part  of  1811,  and  certainly 
should  have  knowm  of  it,  had  it  ever  been  exercised. 

Q.  What  was  your  position  from  1811  to  1814,  in  the  Church? 
A.  An  assistant  minister  of  Trinity  Church. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


209 


Q.  Do  the  records  of  the  church  show  who  voted  in  1813? 
A.  The  clerk  always  takes  down  the  names  of  the  voters  at  the 
elections,  with  the  several  churches  of  the  parish  to  which  the 
voters  belong. 

Q,  Have  you  ever  examined  the  record  with  the  view  to  ^nd 
out  whether  the  nine  churches  did  then  actually  vote?  A.  I 
have  not. 

Q.  Are  the  lists  of  persons  voting  at  last  election,  preserved 
in  Trinity  Church  ?  A.  I  preserve  ray  own  very  carefully  ;  I 
d.0  not  know  whether  the  clerk  does. 

Q.  If  any  such  lists  are  to  be  found,  would  they  not  show 
whether  any  of  the  persons  belonging  to  the  nine  churches, 
voted  ?   A.  If  in  existence,  I  suppose  they  would. 

Q.  What  are  the  salaries  of  each  and  all  the  officers  con- 
nected with  Trinity  Church  ?  A.  The  rector  receives  a  salary  of 
$3,500  per  annum,  and  a  house  with  a  stable;  the  five  assistant 
ministers  get  $3,000  per  annum,  and  an  allowance  of  $1,100  for 
house  rent;  three  other  assistant  ministers  receive  $1,500  per 
annum,  and  no  house;  the  comptroller  receives  $3,500;  the 
clerk  of  the  vestry  $1,000  per  annum;  the  collector  $1,200  per 
annum,  clerk  in  the  office  $1,200. 

Q.  Is  an  allowance  of  $1,100  to  all  assistant  ministers,  for 
rent,  sufficient?    A.  With  moderate  views,  it  is. 

Q.  Is  the  answer  given  on  page  seventeen  of  the  report  of 
Trinity  Church  the  correct  one  ?  A.  I  presume  it  is  correct^ 
It  reads : 

Grants  and  Burial  Places  in  Trinity  Cemetery. 
To  the  Orphan  Asylum,  a  plot  containing  621  square  feet. 
To  the  society  for  the  relief  of  aged  and  indigent  females,  a  plot 
containing  300  square  feet.  To  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Mutual 
Benefit  Society,  a  plot  containing  600  square  feet.  To  Christ 
Church,  a  plot  to  be  selected.  To  the  Orphan's  Home,  a  plot  to 
be  selected. 

By  counsel  for  Trinity — Q.  How  do  these  salaries,  paid  to 
the  clergy  of  Trinity  parish,  compare  with  salaries  paid  to  other 

14 


210 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


clergy  in  the  city  of  New-York?  A.  They  are  considerably 
less;  Dr.  Tyng's  salary  amounts,  I  am  told,  to  about  |6,000;  Dr» 
Hawk'Sj  about  15,000  or  $6,000;  the  rector  of  St.  Thomas  re- 
ceives |5j200. 

By  the  Senate  committee — Q.  Do  you  understand  the  act  of 
1814  to  restrict  the  number  of  persons  qualified  to  vote  for 
church  wardens  or  vestrymen  of  Trinity  Church,  who  had  the 
right  to  vote  before  that  time  ?  A.  I  do  not  suppose  that  it  was 
intended  to  restrict  any  who  had  a  right;  but  let  me  add,  that  I 
do  not  think  any  iiad  the  right  before,  who  did  not  belong  to 
the  parish  of  Trinity  Church. 

Examination  by  counsel  for  Trinity. — Rev.  Francis  Vinton 
called  and  sworn — Q.  What  means  have  yon  of  being  acquainted 
with  the  affairs  of  Trinity  Church?  A.  I  am  an  assistant  min- 
ister there,  and  have  been  so  since  June  1855. 

Q.  What  number  of  ministers  are  there  in  Trinity  parish ^ 
and  how  are  they  employed,  and  what  are  the  character  and 
number  of  the  congregations  which  attend  the  several  churches 
in  that  parish  ?  A  There  are  nine  ministers,  the  rector  and 
eight  assistants.  Two  are  employed  at  the  church,  and  two  in 
each  of  the  chapels;  the  rector  having  general  supervision.  At 
St.  Paul's  chapel,  the  only  one  I  speak  of,  the  congregation  is 
composed  of  three  classes  :  first,  the  old  families  retaining  their 
seats;  second,  strangers  from  the  hotels,  clerks  and  sojourners  of 
the  city,  engaged,  for  the  most  part,  in  mercantile  business; 
third,  mechanics,  artisans,  porters,  washer-women,  hucksters, 
and  miscellaneous  poor,  who  obtain  their  living  by  daily  labor. 

Q.  Will  you  be  good  enough  to  explain  the  arrangements  for 
parochial  work  at  St.  Paul's  chapel,  and  as  to  the  work  of  that 
kind  actually  done  by  the  ministers  and  others  there  employ- 
ed? A.  There  is  a  parish  school  employing  two  teachers 
with  voluntary  assistance  irom  the  women  of  the  parish,  to  teach 
poor  children  the  principles  of  religion,  as  professed  by  the 
Episcopal  church,  the  elements  of  common  learning;  sewing  to 
the  extent  of  each  making  their  own  clothing,  and  as  laboring  to 
get  their  own  living,  and  also  instructions  in  church  music. 


■ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


211 


The  number  of  children  is  80  or  100;  also  a  Sunday  school  in- 
cluding other  children  of  the  parish,  taught  by  between  twenty 
and  thirty  teachers  of  both  sexes;  two  classes  for  advanced 
scholars,  also  a  w^eekly  Bible  class  for  clerks  and  young  men. 
The  public  services  in  the  chapel  are  every  Sunday  morning 
and  afternoon,  five  months  in  the  year,  and  a  night  service  ad- 
ditional lor  seven  months.  I  officiate  statedly  only  in  morning 
service,  the  other  parts  of  the  day  being  employed  in  other  parts 
of  tli€  parish,  at  the  church  or  chapel,  and,  therefore,  can  speak 
only  of  the  congregation  in  the  morning.  Then  it  is  large,  as  it 
is  at  all  the  chapels;  the  communion's  offerings  liberal,  as 
shown  from  the  fact  that  on  Easter  day  they  amounted  to  the 
sum  of  |270,  and  on  Christmas  day  to  $180,  or  thereabouts. 
At  other  times  the  contributions  are  generous.  There  is  es- 
tablished in  connection  with  St.  Paul's  chapel  a  mission  house, 
open  from  9  A.  M.  to  2  P.  M.,  where  one  of  the  assistant  minis- 
ters is  present  every  day.  There  are  two  laymen  employed  to 
inquire  into  and  examine  every  application  for  aid,  and  report 
the  same  to  the  office.  The  case  is  recorded  in  a  book  kept  for 
that  purpose,  and  a  record  made  of  all  that  was  done  in  each 
case.  The  applicants  are  from  vestrymen  wanting  clergymen, 
clergymen  wanting  parishes,  poor  wanting  help,  the  sick  medi- 
cine, the  emigrant  advice,  &c.  The  office  is  in  communication 
with  most  of  the  extant  institutions  of  charity  in  the  city  of 
New-York.  Cards  are  placed  in  hotels  and  eating  houses,  in- 
viting guests,  in  my  own  name,  to  attend  St.  Paul's  chapel, 
where  free  sittings  are  provided.  We  have  received  letters  from 
persons  we  have  aided,  expressing  their  thanks  to  Trinity  Church. 

Q.  Do  you  think  Trinity  Church  has  done  its  utmost  to  make 
the  capital  of  the  property  of  that  corporation  available  for  the 
founding,  or  support  or  promotion  of  religious,  charitable  cr 
educational  institutions  or  purposes  ?  A.  I  can  speak  only  of 
what  I  have  known  of  Trinity  Church  since  my  connection  with 
it  in  June,  1855,  and  I  say  in  answer  to  the  question,  that  I  have 
observed  an  earnest  disposition  so  to  do  on  the  part  of  the  rector, 
wardens  and  vestrymen  of  that  corporation. 

Adjourned  to  4  P.  M.,  Thursday. 


212: 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE. 


Thursday  Afternoon,  Feb.  19,  185T. 
Present,  the  Senate  Committee,  Messrs.  Spencer,  Noxon  and 
Ramsey;  Judge  Parker  and  O.  Meads,  Esq.,  counsel  for  Trinitj 
Church. 

Rev.  Sullivan  H.  Weston  recalled.  Examined  bj  counsel  for 
Trinity  Church. 

Q.  Have  you  any  explanation  to  make  in  regard  to  your 
answer  contained  in  your  former  testimony  1 — |  Referring  to  testi- 
mony taken  before  the  committee  in  New- York.]  A.  I  con- 
sidered that  when  I  said  that  I  could  not  answer  the  questioUy 
that  that  was  the  end  of  my  testimony  ;  the  chairman  of  the 
committee  observing  that  that  would  do,  and  the  rest  of  the 
answer  as  given  was  said  after  I  had  supposed  my  evidence  was 
closed,  and  as  I  supposed,  in  the  way  of  conversation,  to  the 
committee  ;  and  when  I  alluded  to  their  property,  I  alluded  tO' 
the  current  reports  as  to  their  boundless  wealth,  I  was  very 
desirous  to  come  up  and  qualify^  lest  my  former  testimony  might 
be  misunderstood. 

Q.  Do  you  think  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  has  done  its 
utmost  to  make  the  capital  of  the  property  of  that  corporation 
available  for  the  founding,  or  support,  or  promotion  of  religious^ 
charitable  or  educational  institutions  or  purposes?  A.  I  can 
answer  that  question  as  I  did  in  the  first  instance.  I  do  not 
know  what  their  capabilities  are^  but  my  opinion  was,  that  less 
should  be  given  abroad  and  more  in  Trinity  parish.  By  abroad 
I  mean  any  where  out  of  our  parish.  I  do  not  doubt  the  sin- 
cerity of  the  vestry  in  trying  to  do  the  best  they  could. 

Q.  Have  you  any  different  opinion  on  this  subject  than  you 
had  when  examined  before  T  A.  My  opinion  is  the  same  now  as 
then. 

Q.  Was  not  the  reply  of  the  chairman  of  the  committee,  at 
the  previous  examination,  that  "that  would  do,"  intended  to  dis- 
miss you  1   A.  Yes. 

By  the  Senate  Committee  : 

Q.  Is  there  not  great  complaint  among  the  clergy  of  Trinity 
Church  at  the  doings  and  dealings  of  the  vestry  1  A .  I  have 
heard  some  complaints. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


213 


Q.  If  you  had  known,  when  you  answered  before  that  the 
property  ot  the  church  was  worth  $6,000,000  or  $7,000,000  would, 
you  not  have  answered  as  before  ?  A.  My  answer  is,  that  I 
should  want  more  done  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city,  and  less 
elsewhere, 

Q.  Was  it  not,  a  short  time  ago,  in  agitation  among  the  clergy 
of  Trinity  parish,  to  make  a  representation,  in  a  united  manner, 
of  the  wrong  doings  of  the  vestry  1    A.  Not  to  my  knowledge. 

Q.  Were  you  not  spoken  to  by  some  of  the  clergy  about  the 
necessity  of  some  such  interference  to  change  the  dealings  and 
policy  of  Trinity  Church  1  A.  Some  of  the  clergy  had  agreed 
with  me  that  more  should  be  done  down  town,  and  this  was  pre- 
vious to  their  last  action  in  appointing  additional  force  in  the 
parish. 

Q.  Has  not  Dr.  Higby  and  others,  represented  to  you  that 
th€  policy  of  the  vestry  was  ruinous  to  the  church  1  A.  I  do 
not  remember  of  others,  I  know  that  Dr.  Higby  has  spoken  of 
the  past  policy  as  not  being  the  best  policy. 

Q.  You  spoke  of  appointing  force  in  the  parish  ;  when  did  it 
take  place A.  About  two  years  ago  ;  don't  recollect  the  time 
neai'er. 

By  Counsel  for  Trinity  Church : 

Q.  I  want  you  to  explain  what  you  mean  by  saying  you  heard 
some  complaints  among  the  clergy,  about  the  dealings  and 
doings  of  the  vestry?  A.  One  complaint  was  in  reference  to 
the  wish  for  increased  expenditures  down  town,  in  order  to  meet 
the  wants  of  the  poor.  • 

Q.  Were  those  complaints  made,  before  the  additional  minis- 
ters of  Trinity  Church  were  appointed  1    A.  They  were. 

Q.  If  you  had  known  that  the  whole  income  of  Trinity 
Church  was  only  abont  $100,000  per  annum,  should  you  say  that 
they  could  accomplish  more  good  with  it  than  they  have  done  1 
A.  I  think  they  could  not. 

Q.  You  stated  that  Dr.  Higby  complained  of  the  past  policy 
as  not  being  the  best  policy,  in  what  respect,  did  he  think  it 


214 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


not  the  best?  A.  One,  was  in  reference  to  more  enlarged  pro- 
vision down  town,  and  the  other,  in  reference  to  the  building  of 
Trinity  Chapel  up  town,  to  accommodate  the  parishioners  wha 
had  moved  up  town. 

Q.  Have  both  those  defects  been  supplied  ?  A.  The  chapel 
has  been  built  and  we  need  more  means  down  town,  in  Trinity 
parish,  if  they  can  afford  it. 

By  the  Committee : 

Q.  Is  there  not  a  great  want  of  Episcopal  churches  in  New- 
York,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  poor,  or  working  classes'? 
A.  Undoubtedly;  heretofore,  we  have  not  had  force  enough  to 
fill  the  churches  we  had;  that,  is  now  in  a  great  measure  re- 
medied. There  is  no  necessity  of  building  more  churches  in 
that  part  of  the  town,  until  those  already  constructed,  are  filled. 

Q.  Is  there  not  a  great  want  of  Episcopal  churches  in  the 
eastern  and  northeastern  parts  of  the  city,  for  the  poor  or  work- 
ing-classes ?  A.  I  presume  it  is  so;  it  is  so  represented.  It  is 
not  in  my  parish.  I  do  not  know  what  the  religious  opinions 
are  of  the  population  in  those  parts  of  the  city. 

Examination  by  counsel  for  Trinity  church. — Samuel  T.  Skid- 
more  called  and  sworn.— Q.  Are  you  a  member  of  the  vestry  of 
Trinity  church  1  How  long  have  you  been,  and  how  long  a 
member  of  the  standing  committee?  A.  I  have  been  a  member 
of  the  vestry  about  ten  years,  and  of  the  standing  committee 
some  six  or  eight  years. 

Q.  Is  there  any  rule  of  the  vestry,  or  directions  of  the  stand- 
ing committee,  which  prevents  a  corporator  seeing  the  list  of 
the  corporators  ?    A.  None  that  I  am  aware  of,  or  ever  heard  of. 

Q.  Bo  you  understand  that  any  corporator  has  a  right  to  see 
the  list?    A.  I  do. 

Q.  If  there  has  been  a  refusal  to  show  such  list,  was  it  by  any 
directions  of  the  vestry,  or  standing  committee  1  A.  No,  sir  j 
not  that  I  am  aware  of. 

Q.  Was  ever  any  request,  either  for  an  inspection,  or  copy  of 
the  list  of  corporators,  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  vestry  ? 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


216 


A.  The  attention  of  the  vestry  was  called  to  an  application  by 
Dr.  Wainright  to  get  a  copy  of  the  list  of  corporators. 

Q«  Was  it  granted  ?    A.  It  was,  unanimously,  I  believe. 

Q.  Was  any  other  application,  either  for  an  inspection,  or 
copy,  ever  made  to  the  vestry  1    A.  Not  that  I  am  aware  of. 

Q,  Have  the  grants  made  by  the  vestry  been  made  in  a  parti- 
zan  spirit,  or  with  reference  to  "  high"  church  and  low"  church 
opinions  1  A.  I  should  say,  decidedly  not.  I  would  say  fur- 
ther, that  the  question  of  "  high"  and  "  low"  church,  during 
the  time  I  have  been  in  the  vestry,  has  been  very  seldom,  if  ever, 
alluded  to;  and  if  I  thought  that  an  application,  in  all  other 
respects  meritorious,  should  be  rejected  on  the  ground  of  its 
being  "  low"  church,  I  should  resign  my  place  as  a  member  of 
the  standing  committee, 

Q.  Have  the  vestry  been,  to  your  knowledge  or  judgment, 
partial  in  making  their  appropriations  to  other  churches  ?  A.  I 
have  always  endeavored  to  be  impartial  myself,  and  I  have  no 
reason  to  doubt  that  the  other  members  were  actuated  by  the 
same  motives. 

Q,  What  influenced  the  standing  committee  and  the  vestry  in 
their  action  upon  the  application  ot  St.  Matthew's  Church  1  A. 
St.  Matthew's  made  a  large  demand  upon  Trinity,  larger  than  we 
thought  we  could  reasonably  grant,  and  we  thought  that  in  the 
then  state  of  that  parish,  that  a  partial  appropriation  would  do 
but  little  good.  I  would  state  that  the  application  seemed 
eouched  in  very  peremptory  terms,  and  I  recollect  that,  as  a 
member  of  the  standing  committee,  I  said  we  should  divest  our- 
selves of  all  feeling  in  consequence  of  the  peculiar  style  of  the 
application,  and  aid  them  if  we  could.  We  had  very  little  faith 
of  the  church  succeeding  if  we  did  aid  them.  There  were  other 
ohurches  in  the  vicinity. 

Q.  It  is  charged  that  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  have  mate- 
rially reduced  the  stipends  formerly  paid  to  clergymen  in  the 
<}ity  of  New-York.  How  is  the  fact  ?  A.  Trinity  Church  has 
taken  away  stipends  from  certain  churches  whose  congregations 


REPORT  OR  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


they  thought  did  not  need  them,  being  abundantly  able  to  do 
without  them;  and  grants  of  stipends  were  made  in  other  in- 
stances where  they  were  more  needed  The  aggregate,  I  think, 
has  not  been  reduced. 

Q.  Do  you  thinly  Trinity  Church  has  done  its  utmost  to  make 
the  capital  of  the  property  of  that  corporation  available  for  the 
founding  or  support,  or  promotion  of  religious,  charitable  or 
educational  institutions,  or  purposes  ?  A.  I  think  Trinity 
Church  has  made  appropriations  for  religious  objects  as  far,  if 
not  farther,  than  prudence  would  warrant  in  reference  to  her 
means. 

Q.  Have  its  expenditures  and  donations  exceeded  or  fallen 
short  of  its  income  ?  A.  I  think  that  for  the  last  two  or  three 
years  her  expenditures  have  exceeded  her  income  considerably 
over  |100,000;  I  think  for  :ome  years  previous, for  the  past  half 
dozen  years,  her  expenditures  have  largely  exceeded  her  income. 

Q.  Will  you  state  whether  in  your  judgment  these  expendi- 
tures have  been  discreetly  and  wisely  made'?  A.  I  certainly 
think  so,  except  as  to  the  undue  extent. 

Q.  What  was  the  rule  that  governed  the  vestry,  in  regard  to 
helping  churches  of  feeble  means  1  A.I  think  that  one  favorite 
kind  of  appropriation  was  to  parishes  that  had  made  great 
efforts  to  help  themselves,  which  had  received  help  from  others, 
and  where  additional  aid  from  Trinity  Church  was  highly  essen- 
tial to  ensure  success. 

Q.  Is  it  true  that  aid  was  given  to  churches  reluctantly  and 
offensively?  A.  Reluctantly,  only,  when  we  thought  our  sym- 
pathies were  running  away  with  our  better  judgment.  Never 
offensively,  I  should  hope.  Applications  are  very  numerous 
and  very  many  of  a  highly  meritorious  character,  and  which 
enlisted  our  strongest  sympathies,  we  have  felt  compelled  most 
reluctantly  to  refuse.  When  we  had  the  means  we  took  great 
pleasure  in  granting  their  application. 

Q.  What  proportion  of  the  applications  were  you  able  to  act 
upon  favorably  1   A.  I  certainly  think  not  over  one-tenth. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


217 


Q.  Do  you  remember  any  meeting  of  the  vestry  when  you  had 
not  a  large  number  of  those  applications  pending  before  you  1 
A.  I  do  not  remember  any  meeting  of  the  vestry  AvLen  there 
were  not  more  or  less  of  these  applications  pending  before  us, 
unless  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  had  been  held  just  alter  the 
whole  number  before  the  vestry  of  these  applications  had  been 
disposed  of.  There  have  been  temporary  periods  when  it  was 
generally  understood  that  Trinity's  inability  to  respond  favora- 
bly to  applications  would  cause  temporary  cessation  or  postpone- 
ment of  them. 

Q.  Were  any  grants  made  by  the  vestry  with  a  view  to  power 
or  influence  1  A.  I  should  answer,  in  my  opinion,  most  deci- 
dedly no. 

Q.  What  have  you  to  say  about  the  erection  of  Trinity  chapel 
and  the  leases  of  pews  in  it  1  A.  Trinity  chapel ;  the  chief  ob- 
ject in  building  it  was,  first  and  principally,  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  parishioners  and  their  families  who  had  been  a 
long  time  in  the  parish,  but  who  had  removed  too  far  from  the 
parish  church  and  chapel  to  continue  to  worship  therein,  and 
thus,  by  inducing  their  return,  increase,  as  a  consequence,  the 
number  of  their  constituency.  When  the  chapel  was  finished, 
the  vestry  adopted  such  plans  for  disposing  of  the  pews  as  they 
thought  best  calculated  to  attain  those  objects.  But,  inasmuch 
as  some  of  the  features  of  those  plans,  such  as  the  disposing  of 
them  by  an  auction,  were  of  a  somewhat  novel  character,  they 
determined  to  act  cautiously  and  prudently  in  the  first  lettings 
of  those  pews.  The  first  day's  biddings  (as  is  known,)  wxre  con- 
fined to  the  then  actual  corporators  of  the  parish,  and  to  those 
who  had  been  pew  owners  at  any  time  within  the  preceding  ten 
years.  After  which  all  such  pews  as  were  not  then  taken,  were 
on  a  subsequent  day  disposed  of  at  auction,  the  competition 
being  general,  to  any  one  desirous  of  procuring  a  pew  in  the 
chapel.  Particular  attention  has  been  called  to  the  fact  that 
the  first  leases  given  for  pews  in  the  new  chapel  were  drawn  so 
as  to  expire  just  one  or  two  days  before  the  annual  election.  If 
they  had  been  made  to  expire  on  the  day  after  the  election,  the 
lessees  would  not  in  either  case  have  been  entitled,  by  virtue  of 


218 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE. 


those  leases  alone,  to  vote,  for  the  reason  that  they  would  not 
have  been  members  of  the  congregation  for  the  full  term  of  one 
year  before  the  election.  If  such  feature,  or  any  other  feature, 
about  those  first  leases  be  deemed,  therefore,  peculiar  or  un- 
usual, it  must  be  attributed  to  over  carefulness  on  the  part  of 
the  vestry,  and  a  strong  desire  not  to  admit  improper  persons  as 
corporators.  The  result  of  the  lettings  of  the  pews  was,  how- 
ever, highly  satisfactory  and  gratifying  to  the  vestry,  and  they 
thereupon,  in  due  season  and  before  the  next  election,  ordered 
the  future  leases  of  the  pews  to  be  made  to  terminate  on  1st  day 
of  May  in  each  successive  year,  as  in  other  chapels.  Chapel 
consecrated  April  17,  1855,  when  first  services  were  performed  ; 
election  held  March  25,  1856. 

Q.  Is  it  true  that  the  vestry  was  governed  by  the  policy  of 
accumulation,"  as  is  charged  in  the  testimony  of  Mr.  Bradish? 
A.  I  answer  by  saying  that  I  think  the  expenditure  of  tens  of 
thousands  of  dollars  per  annum  beyond  her  income  does  not 
show  such  a  disposition. 

By  the  Senate  Committee : 

Q.  What  is  the  lot  at  the  corner  of  Murray-street  and  Broad- 
way, (No.  251  Broadway,)  worth?  A.  Of  all  the  real  estate  of 
Trinity  Church,  there  is  not  one  that  I  consider  so  valuable,  as 
that  on  the  corner  of  Murray-street  and  Broadway.  I  should 
think  it  would  sell  for  $75,000,  or  $100,000,  if  it  was  entirely 
free  from  lease,  or  any  incumbrances. 

Q.  Will  you  see  what  it  is  returned  at,  in  this  report  of  Tri- 
nity Church'?  (showing  witness  report.)  A.  It  is  stated  here, 
at  $36,750. 

Q.  When  you  made  the  report,  did  you  know  of  the  sale  to 
James  H.  Noe  ?  A.  I  recollect  the  sale  of  a  Greenwich-street 
lot  for  $20,000,  but  do  not  remember  the  purchaser's  name,  nor 
whether  the  sale  was  before,  or  after  the  Vestry's  report. 

Q.  Did  you  know  of  the  sale  at  the  time  it  was  made  1  A. 
I  did.  If  it  was  sold  before  the  report,  it  was  included  through 
inadvertence. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


219 


Q.  Were  you  a  vestryman  at  the  time  the  report  of  Feb.  15, 
1856  was  made?    A.  Yes  Sir. 

Q.  Did  you  not,  with  others,  negotiate  for  the  disposition  of 
property,  on  the  corner  of  Chambers  and  Church-streets,  and 
what  valuations  did  you  put  upon  it,  for  the  Hudson  River  Rail- 
road Company,  and  at  what  time  was  the  bargain  made  ?  A. 
$5,000  per  annum,  which  is  5  per  cent  on  $100,000. 

Q.  How  much  do  you  make  the  lot  worth,  estimating  it  in 
that  manner  1  A.  It  would  be  worth  $100,000,  estimating  it  in 
that  manner.  The  church  put  no  valuation  on  it,  but  only 
talked  about  what  it  would  rent  for. 

Q.  Does  not  Trinity  Church  rent  her  lots  in  all  cases,  at  five 
per  cent  on  what  she  estimates  to  be  their  value  ?  A.  It  is  the 
usual  custom,  where  the  leases  are  renewable,  but  where  a  lease 
falls  in,  we  do  not  feel  ourselves  bound  by  any  such  rule. 

Q.  Will  you  look,  and  see  what  those  lots  are  returned  at  1 
(showing  witness  report.)  A.  They  are  returned  at  $29,500, 
based  on  the  assessor's  valuation. 

Adjourned  to  4  P.  M.,  on  Friday. 


Friday,  February  20,  1857. 
Present  : — Senate  committee  and  counsel  as  before. 

Examination  of  Mr.  Samuel  F.  Skidmore,  continued — Q.  By 
Mr.  Spencer.  During  the  three  years  Trinity  incurred  a  debt  of 
over  $100,000,  was  she  not  building  Trinity  Chapel  ?  A.  She 
was.  Those  expenditures  I  allude  to  were  independent  of  the 
building  of  the  Chapel. 

Q.  Is  the  Annunciation  a  feeble  church?  A.  As  to  its  pre- 
sent circumstances  and  condition  I  am  entirely  ignorant. 

Q.  What  sum  has  Trinity  given  her  within  a  year  or  two 
past?  A.  The  sum,  as  appears  by  the  report,  in  the  aggregate, 
is  $26,800.  It  appears  by  the  report  to  have  been  given  within 
five  years  preceding  the  date  of  the  report.  We  gave  St.  Luke's 
Church,  for  the  year  preceding  the  date  of  the  report,  $2,100 


220 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


which  I  think  was  larger  than  any  preceding  year.  I  suppose 
we  shall  not  give  them  less  the  present  year.  The  Annuncia- 
tion and  St.  Luke's  Churches  are  reputed  to  be  high  churches. 

Q.  Do  you  find  any  such  sums  given  to  any  low  churches 
during  the  same  time.  A.  N"o  sir.  I  see  no  such  sums  given  to 
either  high  or  low  churches. 

Q.  Did  you  ever  know  a  corporator  to  look  at  the  list  of 
corporators.  A.  I  don't  know  that  I  ever  saw  one  examining 
the  list. 

Q.  Do  you  think  you  know  of  all  the  expenditures  of  Trinity 
Church,  ecclesiastical  or  otherwise?    A.  I  should  think  I  did. 

Q.  Do  you  know  of  any  such  disbursements  that  were  not 
directly  for  charitable,  religious  or  benevolent  purposes  ?  A.  I 
think  very  probable  there  might  have  been  disbursements  for 
other  than  those  objects. 

Q.  What  other  object  would  they  spend  money  for?  A.  I 
cannot  call  to  mind  the  particulars  of  other  disbursements. 

Q.  Is  the  estate  of  Trinity  Church  increasing  in  value.  A.  I 
think  it  is  worth  more  now  than  at  any  former  period,  and  more 
than  when  assessor's  valuation  was  made. 

Q.  Does  the  vestry  make  an  annual  report  of  the  financial 
condition  of  the  corporation.  A.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  comp- 
troller, as  well  as  the  custom  for  him  to  make  such  report  to  the 
vestry. 

Q.  Is  there  a  report  made  by  the  vestry  to  the  corporators  ? 
A.  There  is  not. 

Q.  Is  the  annual  report  of  the  comptroller  printed  or  circu- 
lated?  A.  It  is  not. 

Q.  What  appropriations  within  the  three  years  preceding  13th 
April,  1855,  has  Trinity  Church  made  to  institutions  of  charity, 
benevolence  and  learning  in  the  city  of  New  York?  A.  I  read 
from  the  report  of  the  church:  "Grants  of  burial  plots  in 
Trinity  cemetery  to  the  Orphan  Asylum  a  plot  of  621  square 
feet;  to  the  Society  of  Aged  and  Indigent  Females  a  plot  com- 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


221 


taining  300  square  feet;  to  the  Protestant  Benel&t  Society  a  plot 
containing  600  square  feet ;  to  Christ's  church  a  plot  to  be  se- 
lected; to  the  Orphans'  Home  a  plot  to  be  selected;"  and  as  this 
was  the  period  during  which  we  were  build 'ng  Trinity  chapel, 
I  presume  there  were  no  others. 

Question  by  Judge  Parker  : — How  long  were  the  vestry  in 
making  out  iheir  report  1    A.  Several  months. 

Q.  If  there  was  any  omission  to  correct  the  report  of  the 

church,  in  regard  to  a  lot  sold  after  the  report  was  made  out 

and  before  its  date,  was  it  from  design  or  inadvertence  1  A. 
It  was  from  inadvertence  undoubtedly. 

Q.  Does  the  report  of  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  state  the 
valuation  of  the  real  estate  of  the  corporation,  as  founded  upon 
the  estimates  of  the  vestry,  or  upon  the  valuations  of  the  city 
assessor,  made  for  the  purposes  of  city  taxation  ?  A.  Not  as  her 
own  valuation,  but  as  the  valuation  of  the  sworn  city  assessors; 
I  would  furtlier  say,  that  the  vestry  had  no  desire  to  depreciate 
the  value  of  tlieir  property  by  adopting  the  valuation  of  the  city 
assessors  as  the  basis  of  their  report,  for  they  supposed  that  to  be 
near  enough  for  all  practical  purposes,  and  if  deemed  below  its 
real  or  actual  value  any  two  or  three  gentlemen,  familiar  with 
the  value  of  city  property,  could  easily  have  agreed  upon  some 
additional  percentage  necessary  to  bring  it  up  to  their  own 
opinion  of  its  fair,  if  not  its  exact  and  actual  value;  and  they 
were  equally  anxious  to  avoid  all  exaggeration  of  the  value  of. 
their  real  estate,  which  would  thereby  induce  large  and  more 
numerous  applications  for  aid,  when  they  have  so  many  beyond 
their  ability  to  grant. 

Q.  When  the  comptroller  makes  his  annual  report  to  the  vestry, 
what  is  done  with  it  1  A.  The  comptroller  makes  out  his  annual 
report  according  to  custom,  which  is  examined  and  certified  to 
by  an  auditing  committee,  appointed  by  the  vestry  for  that  pur- 
pose. It  is  then  read  to  a  meeting  of  the  vestry,  and  laid  upon 
the  table,  or  ordered  on  file,  subject  to  any  further  examination 
in  detail,  by  any  member  of  the  vestry. 


222 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Q.  How  long  has  it  been  the  practice  to  make  these  annual 
reports  ?  A.  During  the  whole  time  of  my  being  a  member  of 
the  vestry,  and,  as  I  suppose,  always. 

Q.  What  is  the  object  in  taking  mortgages,  where  a  grant  is 
made?  A.  These  church  mortgages  are  taken  and  held  by 
Trinity  Church,  not  for  their  own  private  benefit,  but  (and  in 
good  faith)  for  the  benefit  of  other  churches.  They  never  have 
demanded,  nor  do  they  expect  to  demand,  either  the  principal  or 
interest  of  these  loans,  except  in  occasional  isolated  cases;  such 
for  instance,  as  the  foreclosure  of  a  prior  mortgage,  or  to  save 
the  church  properties  from  being  disposed  of  improperly,  or  for 
other  than  church  objects  and  purposes.  The  parties  obtaining 
these  loans,  (which  they  look  upon  virtually  as  gifts,)  do  not 
object  to  giving  such  mortgages  on  their  churches,  but  generally 
view  the  requirement  of  them  as  a  wise  and  conservative  mea- 
sure for  perpetuating  the  original  object  and  intention  of  the 
grant.  The  character  of  these  mortgages  is  so  well  and  so  gene- 
rally understood,  that  an  attempt  to  foreclose  any  one  of  them, 
on  the  part  of  Trinity  Church,  for  the  purpose  of  restoring  the 
amount  again  to  their  own  coffers,  would  be  regarded  as  little 
short  of  absolute  dishonesty.  If  the  same  objects  aimed  at  in 
these  loans,  could  be  equally  well  secured  in  some  other  way,  I 
confidently  believe  that  no  desire  on  the  part  of  Trinity  Church 
to  keep  alive  a  sense  of  obligation  to  her  on  the  part  of  the  re- 
cipients of  her  favors  would,  for  one  moment,  stand  in  the  way 
of  the  change.  For  the  foregoing  reasons,  I  think  that  the 
principal  and  interest  of  those  mortgages,  (amounting  to  $571,- 
952,)  ought  not  to  be  considered  as  part  of  the  wealth  of  Trinity 
Church,  nor  be  made  to  show  a  seeming  intention^  on  her  part,  to 
withhold  from  the  Honorable  the  Senate,  essential  and  import- 
ant facts  respecting  her  property. 

Q.  Has  the  church  ever  foreclosed  any  of  these  mortgages  ? 
A.  None  to  my  knowledge. 

Q.  Can  you  make  any  statement  relative  to  the  interest  of 
Trinity  Church  in  St.  John's  Park,  and  the  reason  it  was  omitted 
in  their  report?    A.  I  will  state  that  Trinity  Church  looked 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


223 


upon  that  park  as  so  permanently  appropriated  for  the  purposes 
of  a  park,  that  the  sale  of  it,  apparently,  no  more  entered  their 
minds,  than  the  sale  of  one  of  (heir  burial  grounds.  The  agita- 
tion of  the  subject  of  the  sale  was  started  by  the  other  property 
owners,  after  the  report  of  the  church  was  made.  The  statement 
upon  that  subject  in  the  supplemental  report  of  the  vestry  is  cor- 
rect; the  whole  number  of  lots  interested  in  the  park  is  sixty-four, 
of  which  Trinity  Church  owns  seven,  being  one-ninth  of  the 
whole.  I  will  further  state,  it  was  supposed  on  part  of  some  of 
the  propert}^  owners,  that  they  would  be  able  to  get  from  the 
United  States  Government  some  six  or  seven  hundred  thousand 
dollars  for  the  property.  I  do  not  know  whether  they  actually 
had  an  offer  for  it  or  not,  but  even  if  sold  at  that  price,  the  pro- 
rata share  of  Trinity  Church  would  be  about  seventy  thousand 
dollars.  St.  John's  chapel  and  parsonage  and  Sunday  school 
stand  on  these  seven  lots,  the  rest  is  vacant  ground. 

Q.  Have  you  been  on  the  committee  to  examine  the  comptrol- 
ler's report,  and  had  you  free  access  to  all  the  books,  papers  and 
accounts'?  A.  I  have  been  on  the  committee,  and  had  fi»ee 
access  to  all  the  books,  papers  and  acc(\unts. 

Q.  Have  you  ever  heard  of  any  member  of  the  vestry  being  de- 
nied free  access  to  the  books  1  A.  Never  knew  or  heard  of  any 
such  thing,  except  in  the  testimony  annexed  to  the  committee's 
report. 

Q.  Have  the  standing  committee  power  to  sell  a  lot  without 
the  consent  of  the  vestry  1  A.  It  is  not  their  custom,  and  I 
understand  they  have  not  the  power. 

Q.  What  means  have  the  members  of  ever  knowing  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  standing  committee  ?  A.  The  standing  commit- 
tee keep  full  minutes  of  all  their  proeeedings,  and  which  are 
read  to  the  vestry  at  every  vestry  meeting. 

Q.  Is  each  report  and  recommendation  by  the  standing  com- 
mittee then  passed  upon  separately  by  the  vestry  ?  A.  They 
are. 

Q.  Have  the  vestry  in  any  way  endeavored  to  control  the  free 
opinions  and  acts  of  the  vestry  and  ministers  who  had  received  or 
were  seeking  aid  for  their  churches  1    A.  Not  to  my  knowledge. 


224 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Q.  State  the  proceedings  ol  the  vestry  for  making  the  minis- 
tration of  the  church  more  efficient  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city, 
and  tlie  dates  at  which  they  took  place  ?  A.  May  8th,  1854,  at 
a  vestry  meeting,  resolutions  were  offered  for  the  appointment  of 
Dr.  Haight  and  Messrs.  Hobart  and  Weston,  as  assistant  minis- 
ters ;  the  resolutions  were  referred  to  a  committee  on  the  state 
of  the  parish.    March  5,  1855,  resolutions  were  adopted  that  on 

 day,  the  assistant  ministers  shall  be  appointed  by  ballot, 

and  that  they  be  assigned  to  a  particular  congregation.  March 
26,  1855,  the  above  named  gentlemen  were  appointed  assistant 
ministers,  and  on  the  11th  of  June,  1855,  they  w^ere  severally 
assigned  to  their  respective  congregations.  The  resolutions  of 
the  8th  of  May,  1854,  had  reference  to  the  appointment  of  assis- 
tant ministers,  and  their  assignment  to  their  different  churches. 
The  resolutions  of  8th  May  had  reference  to  the  appointment  of 
the  different  churches. 

Q.  State  what  were  the  proceedings  of  the  vestry  and  stand- 
ing committee  on  the  subject  of  the  application  of  the  church  of 
St,  Timothy,  and  what  influenced  their  action  ?  A.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Rowland  made  an  application  to  the  vestry  of  Trinity 
Church  of  a  noble  and  magnanimous  character,  which  was 
referred  as  is  usual  to  the  standing  committee,  tho;  gh  at  a  time 
when  the  committee  considered  the  financial  condition  of  the 
parish  illy  calculated  to  respond  favorably  to  so  large  an 
application.  They  were  still  anxious  if  possible  not  to  be 
obliged  to  reject  it.  The  proposal  on  the  part  of  Mr.  How- 
land,  involved  liabilities  to  the  amount  of  twenty  thousand  dol- 
lars. He  proposed  to  appropriate  dollar  for  dollar,  or  upwards, 
for  the  same  object.  The  committee  were  so  desirous  of  doing 
something,  they  invited  Mr.  Howland  on  one  or  to  occasions  to 
meet  with  them  in  committee.  After  long  and  anxious  consid- 
eration on  the  subject,  they  telt  compelled  to  report  to  the  vestry 
unfavorably  to  the  application.  The  vestry  did  not  adopt  the 
report,  but  sent  it  back  for  further  consideration.  Yet,  after 
further  consideration,  and  with  the  strong  sympathies  of  every 
member  of  the  vestry  in  behalf  of  the  application,  the  standing 
committee  again  reported  unanimously  against  it,  for  the  reason 
that  the  increased  magnitude  of  their  debt  in  their  judgment 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


225 


forbade  it.  Notwithstanding  this  report,  the  vestry  ordered  it 
to  lie  on  the  table,  where  it  is  now. 

Q,  Were  any  applications  made  during  *the  last  year  for  the 
establishment  of  two  free  churches  in  destitute  parts  of  the  city, 
provided  the  applicants  would  furnish  half  the  cost  1  A.  None, 
except  the  applicatiosi  to  Mr.  Howland. 

Q.  How  long  a  lease  is  there  on  the  lot  No.  251  Broadway, 
and  at  what  annual  rent  ?  A.  An  unexpired  lease  ot  about  six- 
teen years,  and  at  an  annual  rent  of  twenty-six  dollars  and  a 
quarter. 

Q.  Was  there  any  service  in  Trinity  Chapel  until  its  conse- 
cration, and  on  what  date  was  its  consecration,  and  what  day  was 
next  election  held  ?  A.  There  was  no  service  previous  to  the 
consecration,  which  was  on  the  17th  day  of  April,  1855,  and  the 
next  election  was  on  Easter  Tuesday,  the  25th  March,  1856. 

Q.  What  statement  have  you  to  make  in  regard  to  the  valua- 
tion of  the  property  of  the  church,  which  would  be  correct  upon 
Ely's  and  Dodd's  valuations  of  the  real  estate  1  A.  There  seems 
to  be  a  mistake  in  the  principle  adopted  for  arriving  at  the  nett 
total  present  value  of  the  real  estate,  as  stated  on  page  twelve  of 
the  Senate  report.  The  Vestry's  estimate,  taking  the  valuations 
of  the  assessors  as  a  guidcj  irrespective  of  the  leases  and  deduc- 
tions, was  $2,668,710. 

Q.  Then  if  the  above  valuation  of  $2,668,710,  makes  the 
present  value  of  the  interest  of  the  lessees  to  be  $1,222,338,  what 
would  the  interest  of  the  lessees  be  on  Ely's  and  Dodd's  valuation 
of  $5,874,023  ?  A.  $2,690,443,  or  very  nearly  that  amount. 
The  aggregate  footing  in  Senate  committee  report  is,  $7,092,544 
From  which  deduct  on  account  of  leases  according  to 

above  corrected  estimate,   $2,690,443 

And  the  church  debt  of,   648,913 

  3,339,356 

Leaves,   $3,753,188 


15 


226 


HEPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEli: 


The  nett  total  present  value  even  on  Messrs.  Ely  and  Do(Jd% 

valuation,  should  therefore  be . »   $35753,188 

Instead  of  (as  stated  in  report  of  Senate  committee)      5,221  ^29^ 


Making  in  this  one  item  an  error  evidently  of  about    $1 ,468,105 


From  the  nett  total  present  value  as  above  correct- 
ed of    $3,753,18B 

Deduct  the  church  mortgages  and  interest,  |571,952 
And  the  amount  set  down  for  St.  John's 

park   4(>0,000 

  971,952 


And  a  nett  total  present  value  would  then  remain  of  |2,781 ,236 
As  the  nett  amount  resulting  from  the  adoption  of 
Messrs.  Ely  and  Dodd's  valuation.    Ey  adding 
thereto  a  prospective  pecuniary  interest  in  St. 

John's  park,  the  sum  of  say  , . . .  $75,000 

And  it  would  make  the  aggregate  amount,   $2^856,236 


This,  be  it  remembered,  is  a  valuation  entirely  irrespective  of 
the  existing  encumbrances  by  leases,  which  would  greatly  reduce 
its  present  value  to  Trinity  Church;  and  be  it  also  rememberedj 
that  nearly  one-half  of  the  entire  r^al  estate  brings  Trinity 
Church  an  income  of  less  than  five  hundred  dollars  per  annum. 

By  Senate  Committee : 

Q.  What  valuation  did  the  vestry  put  upon  St.  John's  park? 
A.  They  did  not  profess  to  put  a  valuation  on  that  property,  but 
after  showing  the  strongest  disinclination  to  sell  at  all,  and  be- 
ing earnestly  importuned  and  pressed  to  name  some  terms  upon 
which  they  would  give  their  consent  to  sell^  they  finally  agreed 
to  do  so,  when  their  share  of  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  should  be 
$400,000. 

Q.  Have  the  standing  committee  power  to  lease  lots  without 
the  consent  of  the  vestry  ?  A.  They  have  to  lease,  but  not  to 
sell.  The  standing  committee  leases  property  without  consult- 
ing the  vestry. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


227 


Q.  Have  not  the  vestry  been  urged  by  some  of  its  members 
to  print  the  annual  report  1  A.  There  was  one  very  respectable 
member  of  our  vestry  has  been  solicitous  to  have  the  report 
printed  for  the  use  of  the  vestry,  but  a  majority  have  been  dis- 
inclined to  do  so. 

Rev,  Edward  G,  Higbee,  called  by  counsel  for  Trinity  Church. 

Q.  What  explanation  do  you  desire  to  make  in  relation  to 
your  former  testimony  before  this  committee  ?  A.  On  the  3d  of 
Dec,  1856,  I  was  called  upon  to  give  testimony  before  a  com- 
mittee of  the  Senate  of  the  State  of  New-York,  in  relation  to 
parish  of  Trinity  Church  in  the  city  of  New- York.  The  inter- 
rogatories were  few,  and  the  answers  necessarily  short  and 
general,  and  I  fear  that  without  further  explanation  my  testi- 
mony will  not  be  understood.  I  kept  no  memoranda  of  my  in- 
terview with  the  committee,  but  as  well  as  I  can  remember,  one 
of  the  first  proposed  to  me  was  as  follows  (substantially) : 

^'  During  the  time  that  you  have  been  connected  with  the 
parish  of  Trinity  Church,  in  your  opinion  has  the  design  of  the 
original  foundation  of  the  same  been  fully  carried  out  f  A. 

My  belief  is,  that  owing  to  temporary  and  accidental  circum- 
stances, the  influence  of  which  has  been  increasing  almost  from 
the  time  that  I  became  a  minister  of  the  parish,  the  original 
design  of  this  charity  has  not  been  fully  carried  out." 

This,  in  substance,  was  my  answer,  I  was  not  requested  to 
state  what  the  "  temporary  and  accidental  circumstances"  were 
to  which  I  alluded.  Such  a  statement,  however,  appears  neces- 
sary, to  show  the  true  meaning  of  my  testimony. 

I  therefore  beg  permission  to  say,  that  I  alluded  to  the  general 
and  yearly  increasing  removal  of  the  residences  of  the  citizens 
of  New- York  towards  the  more  northern  part  of  the  island,  and 
to  the  effects  of  this  upon  the  churches,  of  all  denominations, 
in  the  lower  parts  of  the  city. 

The  effect  upon  Trinity  Church,  and  its  chapels,  (more  par- 
ticularly upon  Trinity  Church  and  St.  Paul's  chapel,)  was,  first, 
to  deprive  them,  gradually  and  surely,  of  their  regular  congre- 
gations, and,  of  course  of  their  congregational  and  parochial 


228 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


spirit,  responsibility  and  efficiency  ;  and  secondly,  to  diminish 
and  weaken,  in  a  continually  increasing  ratio,  the  constituency 
of  the  corporation  ;  thus  destroying  the  equilibrium  of  the 
parish,  and  undermining  its  foundations  as  an  institution  of 
public  charity. 

For  a  long  time  there  seemed  to  be  no  remedy  for  this  evil. 
The  vestry  were  restrained,  (as  I  have  always  understood,)  by 
the  terms  of  their  charter,  from  acquiring  real  estate,  and  there- 
fore, could  not  follow  the  members  of  their  church  to  their  new 
residences,  and  supply  them  with  places  of  worship. 

At  length,  a  means  of  removing  the  difficulty  was  afforded,  by 
a  general  act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  I  believe,  in  1850. 
Under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  ground  was  purchased,  upon 
which  Trinity  chapel  now  stands.  This  chapel  was  opened  in 
1855,  in  the  spring,  and  it  has  been,  and  is  now  filled,  with  a 
large,  stated,  intelligent  and  charitable  congregation  ;  and  there 
can  be  no  reasonable  doubt,  that  the  result  of  this  decided 
movement  in  a  right  direction,  is  a  most  salutary  one  to  the 
whole  parish,  and  is  full  of  promise  for  the  future. 

I  believe  that  the  clergy  of  Trinity  Church  are  united,  and 
that  the  parishioners  sympathise  with  them  in  the  desire  and  the 
resolution  to  make,  so  far  as  in  them  lies,  this  ancient  parish  an 
instrument  of  good  to  the  church,  and  to  the  community  at 
large,  to  the  utmost  extent  of  its  resources. 

Another  question  proposed  by  the  committee,  was  in  sub- 
stance as  follows : 

"  Have  you  ever  seen  a  list  of  the  constituents  of  Trinity 
Parish  V 

A.  (In  substance,)  "  I  have  never  seen  such  a  list  Dr.  Wain- 
right  and  I  made  repeated  efiorts  to  procure  one,  without  suc- 
cess. Dr.  Wainright,  however,  as  he  informed  me,  did  obtain 
it  from  the  vestry  after  he  was  elected  to  the  episcopate." 

This  answer  is  too  vague  and  general.  Had  there  been  oppor- 
tunity for  more  careful  recollection  when  I  was  before  the  com- 
mittee, my  answer  would  have  been  as  follows  : 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


229 


<*For  a  long  time  Drs.  Wainwriglit,  Parks,  and  myself,  assis- 
tant ministers,  had  been  filled  with  anxiety  and  apprehension  on 
account  of  the  steady  diminution  of  the  constituency  of  the 
parish.  Wishing  to  keep  ourselves  informed  of  the  real  condi- 
tion of  things  we  sought  to  procure  a  true  list  of  the  constituents. 
We  were  reluctant  to  ask  formally  for  the  official  list  of  the 
parish,  because  suggestions  had  been  made  to  us  that  we  might 
thereby  incur  the  imputation  of  intending  to  take  some  active 
part  in  the  Easter  elections.  We  therefore  tried  to  make  a  list 
for  ourselves  from  such  sources  ol  information  as  were  within 
our  reach.  Failing  in  this  Dr.  Wainwright  and  I,  (Dr.  Parks 
being  absent  on  account  of  the  illness  of  which  afterwards  he 
died,)  resolved  that  we  ought  formally  to  request  a  copy  of  the 
list  kept  in  the  vestry  office,  or  by  the  rector.  Dr.  Wainwright 
in  his  and  my  behalf,  did  accordingly  make  such  an  application. 
When  he  first  made  it  I  do  not  now  remember,  nor  how  often  it 
was  repeated;  but  I  know  that,  as  he  informed  me,  such  a  list 
was  furnished  him  some  time  after  his  election  to  the  episcopate. 

The  foregoing  explanations  are  true. 

EDWARD  Y.  HIGBEE. 

New-York,  January  5,  1857. 

Rev.  William  H,  De  Lancy  called  and  sworn;  examination  by 
Senate  Committee. 

Q.  Where  is  your  residence  and  what  is  your  office  ?  A.  My 
residence  is  in  Geneva,  Ontario  county,  Western  New- York ;  and 
my  office  is  that  of  bishop  of  the  diocese  of  Western  New- York, 
to  which  office  I  was  consecrated  in  1839. 

Q.  What  part  of  the  State  of  New- York  does  your  diocese 
comprehend?  A  The  western  part,  including  Broome,  Che- 
nango, Madison,  Oneida,  Lewis,  and  Jefierson  counties,  with  all 
the  counties  west  of  them. 

Has  Trinity  Church,  New-York,  aided  any  of  the  churches 
in  your  diocese  ]  A.  Yes,  I  learn  from  the  publications  of  the 
rector  of  Trinity  Church  that  she  has  aided  altogether,  since 
1807,  in  Western  New- York,  about  77  churches,  being  €  before 


230 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


the  year  1814y  and  71  churches  since  that  year.  Some  were 
aided  twice.  Of  those  71  aided  since  1814,  about  20  have  been 
aided  since  I  became  bishop, 

Q.  In  what  way  has  the  aid  of  Trinity  Church  been  extended 
to  those  churches  1  A.  In  almost  every  case,  except  Trinity 
church,  Utica,  as  far  as  I  know,  by  grants  of  money,  in  small 
sums,  for  churches  and  parsonages,  for  which  grants  in  some 
cases  Trinity  Church  has  taken  a  mortgage  on  the  church,  and 
in  other  cases  she  has  not. 

Q.  Has  Trinity  Church  ever  foreclosed  any  of  the  mortgages 
on  churches,  or  ever  required  the  aunual  interest  on  them  to  be 
paid  to  her?  A.  I  have  never  heard  or  known  of  any  such 
cases  in  Western  New-York  or  elsewhere.  I  do  not  usually  con- 
secrate a  new  church  edifice,  until  the  vestry  certify  that  it& 
debts  are  paid  or  reasonably  provided  for.  A  mortgage  to 
Trinity  Church,  on  which  neither  principal  nor  interest  are 
demanded,  I  do  not  consider  an  obstacle  to  the  consecration  of 
a  new  church,  but  as  additional  security  against  its  alienation 
from  its  holy  objects. 

Q.  Has  any  church  in  your  diocese,  to  which  Trinity  ha& 
made  a  grant  of  money  without  taking  a  mortgage  on  churcb 
edifice,  ever  been  lost  to  the  congregation  or  diocese?  A.  Yesj 
a  church  on  which  Trinity  Church  took  no  mortgage  for  a  grant 
of  $500,  was  sold  for  debt,  and  the  congregation  dispersed.  A 
mortgage  to  Trinity  Church  would  have  saved  it,  or  at  least 
saved  the  $500,  for  the  use  of  the  diocese  elsewhere. 

Q  When  Trinity  Church  has  thus  taken  mortgages  from 
churches  in  your  diocese  for  monies  granted  to  them,  what  has 
been  the  effect  of  this  upon  the  interest  and  condition  of  the 
churches  thus  aided?  A.  Favorable.  1.  By  preventing  church 
edifices  from  being  alienated  from  the  holy  objects  for  which 
they  were  erected.  2.  By  encouraging  the  individual  members 
to  sustain  the  church  thus  secured  to  its  object.  3.  By  attract- 
ing outside  people  to  the  church  thus  known  to  be  secured  to  its 
object  without  their  being  called  in  to  help  to  pay  its  debt. 
4.  By  being  an  obstacle  as  a  first  mortgage  against  further  moii- 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


231 


gages  of  the  church  for  debt,  5.  I  cannot  say  that  I  have  seen 
any  moral,  spiritual,  ecclesiastical,  or  pecuniary  evils  result  from 
such  mortgages  in  my  diocese. 

Q.  Has  Trinity  church  ever,  to  your  knowledge  or  belief, 
sought  to  exercise  any  influence  over  the  course  or  opinions 
either  of  the  clergy  or^the  parishes  in  your  diocese  l    A.  No. 

Q.  Has  Trinity  church,  to  your  knowledge  or  belief,  ever 
been  governed  by  party  considerations  in  making  her  grants  to 
churches  in  your  diocese  1    A.  No, 

Q.  Has  Trinity  Church  made  any  grants  for  educational  pur- 
poses  in  your  diocese  1  A.  Yes,  a  most  important  and  liberal  one 
to  the  value  of  |50,000,  to  Geneva  college  in  1851.  The  grant 
was  made  when  Geneva  college  was  in  a  disastrous  and  critical 
condition,  occasioned  by  the  State  withdrawing  unsuspectedly, 
under  the  two  year  provision  of  the  new  Constitution  of  1846, 
in  regard  to  appropriations,  her  annual  grant  of  |6,000  to  the 
college,  leaving  nearly  $3,000  unpaid,  (and  still  unpaid)  a  debt 
upon  the  college  trustees,  who  were  without  means  to  pay  the 
professors,  all  of  whom  but  the  president  sought  other  posts, 
and  the  students  diminished  in  number  from  eighty  (the  highest 
number  under  the  State  grant)  to  thirty-seven.  When  the  pros- 
pect of  private  endowment  to  maintain  new  professors  was  dim 
and  gloomy,  and  the  very  continuance  of  the  college  dubious,  in 
this  emergency  Trinity  Church  was  asked  to  endow  the  college, 
which  she  did  in  1851  by  a  grant  of  |50,000,  the  interest  at  six 
per  cent.,  to  be  paid  annually  until  the  principal  is  paid  on  the 
termination  of  the  Astor  lease,  as  I  understand,  on  the  condition 
that  the  college  be  made  in  its  literary  department  a  free  college 
forever^  to  all  students  that  come  to  it,  and  that  it  take  the  name 
Hobart  Free  College,  by  act  of  the  Legislature.  Since  which 
time  the  faculty  have  been  sustained,  and  the  students  have  in- 
creased from  thirty-seven  to  ninety-six,  a  larger  number  than  it 
ever  had  under  the  State  grant.  And  |22,000  additional  endow- 
ment, viz  :  a  professorship  of  $15,000,  a  fellowship  of  $5,000, 
and  two  scholarships  of  $1,000  each,  and  several  benefactions 
have  been  received  from  private  sources,  not  one  of  wiiich  endow- 


232 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


meiits,  I  am  convinced,  would  have  been  made,  without  thw 
grant  from  Trinity  church. 

Q.  Do  you  think  that  the  vestry  of  Trinity  church  has  done 
its  utmost  to  make  the  capital  of  the  property  of  that  corpora- 
tion available  for  the  founding,  or  support,  or  promotion  of 
religious,  charitable^  or  educational  institutions,  or  purposes  1 
A.  As  I  cannot  name  the  wealthy  church  corporation,  or  indi- 
vidual, in  the  city  of  New-York,  or  elsewhere,  who  I  think  doeSj 
in  these  respects,  act  with  the  capital  of  the  property  up  to  full 
obligations  to  God,  and  does  the  utmost  with  it;  as  the  question 
covers  the  proceedings  of  the  vestry  before  I  was  born ;  as  I  am 
not  now,  and  never  have  been  acquainted  with  the  exact  condi- 
tion, or  external  arrangement  of  the  property  of  Trinity  churchy 
and  therefore,  am  not  qualified  to  give  an  opinion  on  such  a 
point,  I  can  only  say,  that  if  the  present  rector  and  vestry,  who 
know  about  their  property,  declare  that  they  have  done,  or  are 
doing  to  their  utmost  in  these  respects,  I  would  rely  upon  their 
statement,  as  that  of  honorable,  high-minded,  faithful  and  con- 
scientious men,  in  preference  to  my  own  views,  which  must  be 
founded  on  most  imperfect  knowledge,  and  in  opposition  to  the 
opinions  and  judgments  (respecting  the  use  of  Trinity  church 
property,)  of  disappointed  applicants,  eager  expectants,  enthusi- 
asts in  experimental  schemes  of  good,  the  heads  of  church  par- 
ties and  local  enemies,  or  any  other  individuals,  but  partially 
acquainted  with  the  facts  of  the  case,  however  pious,  worthy^ 
zealous,  and  highly  esteemed  I  may  regard  them, 

Q.  What,  in  your  judgment,  would  be  the  elfect  of  the  repeal 
of  the  law  of  1814^  A.  Disastrous  to  the  church,  both  in  New- 
York  city  and  in  the  country  Disastrous  to  the  church  in  New- 
York  city:  1.  By  engendering,  at  once,  a  long  and  bitter 
litigation  before  the  courts,  between  Trinity  church  corporation 
and  the  other  churches  in  the  city,  as  the  to  constitutionality 
and  legality  of  the  repeal  of  the  law,  requiring,  at  once,  a  repeal 
of  the  law  of  1784,  or  a  modification  of  it  by  another  law  like 
that  of  1814.  2.  By  dividing  the  churches  outside  of  Trinity 
church  corporation  into  parties  for  and  against  Trinity  church, 
on  all  these  points.    3.  By  splitting  up  every  congregation  into 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


233 


such  parties.    4.  By  making  the  election  of  vestry  for  Trinity 
church  an  annual  occasion  of  unholy  excitement,  collision  and 
contest,  most  injurious  to  the  character,  piety,  prosperity  and 
usefulness  of  the  church.    5.  By  throwing  an  unquenchable 
firebrand  among  the  clergy  and  laity  in  New-York.    6.  By 
raising,  at  once,  such  questions  as  these  to  distract  the  clergy 
and  parishes:  If  the  rector  of  Trinity  church,  be  the  "rector 
of  New- York  and  all  its  inhabitants,"  is  he  not  rector  over 
all  the  churches  under  the  charter  1    Are  not  all  the  other 
rectors  in  New-York,  merely  his  assistants  1     Are  not  all 
the  churches  in  New-York  merely  chapels  of  Trinity  Church  1 
Is  not  the  law,  authorizing  separate  parishes  in  the  city, 
unconstitutional  ?    Ought  not  the  charters  of  other  corpora- 
tions to  be  annulled,  as  incompatible  with  the  charter  of 
Trinity;  which  would  then  comprise  all  the  inhabitants  of 
the  city?    The  law,  as  it  stands,  silences  all  such  questions; 
repeal  it,  and  in  my  judgment,  with  such  a  property  at  issue, 
and  in  a  city  containing  2,000  lawyers,  many,  of  the  highest 
eminence,  and  keenest  penetration,  such  like  questions  would 
start  up  at  once  to  produce  clamor,  confusion,  and  conflict,  and 
to  draw  away  thousands  of  dollars  from  charitable,  religious, 
and  educational  institutions  and  purposes,  to  a  most  baneful 
litigation.    The  repeal  of  the  law  would  be  disastrous  to  the 
whole  church  of  the  State,  outside  of  the  city.    1 .  By  raising  the 
question,  as  to  the  right  of  dispensing  any  of  this  property  out 
of  the  city,  which  is  denied  by  some,  but  which,  the  present 
corporation  has  admitted,  and  has  temporarily  acted  on.    2.  By 
leading,  almost  necessarily,  to  the  division  of  all  the  property 
among  the  city  churches.    3.  By  thus  cutting  off  all  the  feeble 
country  churches  from  the  benefit  of  this  favor.    4.  By  stopping 
what  has  been  a  stream  of  most  salutary  and  fertilizing  benevo- 
lence to  religious,  charitable,  or  educational  institutions  in  the 
rural  districts.    5.  By  presenting  the  church  in  the  city  of  New- 
York,  clergy  and  laity,  in  a  most  unattractive  and  deplorable  atti- 
tude, as  quarrelsome,  abusive  and  repulsive,  estranged  from  each 
other;  pamphleteering  and  publishing  in  anger,  and  stirring  the 
whole  press  in  New-York,  and  in  the  country,  secular  and  re- 
ligious, into  sharp,  bitter,  and  ceaseless  controversy,  fatal  to  the 


234 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


reputation  of  the  church  for  stability,  quietness,  and  peace,  and 
not  promotive  of  the  sanctification  and  salvation  of  men,  but 
subversive  of  sound  law  and  morals. 

Question  by  Mr.  Spencer.  Is  the  opinion  expressed  in  the 
answer  you  have  given,  your  opinion  of  churchmen  generally? 
A.  My  opinion  is  founded  upon  my  knowledge  and  observation 
of  human  nature  generally,  and  of  religious  controversies  and 
church  contentions,  generally. 

Q.  Have  you  looked  over  the  names  of  the  persons  who  testi- 
fied before  the  committee  in  the  city  of  New-York  7    A.  Yes  sir. 

Q.  Are  not  the  laymen  who  testified,  among  the  most  liberal 
to  country  churches  1  A.  I  have  never,  that  I  recollect,  made 
personal  applications  to  any  of  them,  but  some  of  them  bear  a 
high  reputation  for  liberality,  with  other  churchmen  in  New- 
York,  and  I  have  myself,  a  high  personal  regard  for  them.  I 
cannot  answer  as  to  their  liberality  to  country  churches. 


Saturday,  February  21.  ^ 
Present :  Senate  Committee  and  Counsel  as  before . 
William  Moore^  called  and  sworn.    Examination  by  counsel 
for  Trinity  Church: — Q.  Where  do  you  reside?    A.  I  reside  in 
Phillipstown,  Putnam  county,  lately  of  the  firm  of  De  Hham  and 
Moore,  of  the  city  of  New- York. 

Q.  Have  you  been  a  vestryman  of  Trinity  Church,  and  for 
what  time?  A.  I  was  elected  a  vestryman  in  1839,  and  contin- 
ued to  be  so  until  last  autumn,  when  I  resigned  in  consequence 
of  my  removal  from  the  city. 

Q.  Were  you  a  member  of  the  standing  committee  ?  A.  I  was 
for  a  great  many  years,  but  don't  remember  how  long.  I  con- 
tinued in  the  standing  committee  up  to  the  period  of  my  resig- 
nation. 

Q.  Will  you  tell  me  whether  the  list  of  corporators  was  open 
to  the  inspection  ot  any  corporator?  A.  I  believe  it  to  be  so; 
never  heard  of  any  difficulty  on  the  subject,  until  an  application 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


235 


was  made  by  Dr.  Wainwright  for  a  copy  of  the  list.  The  per- 
sons in  the  office,  to  whom  the  application  was  made,  were  doubt- 
ful of  the  propriety  of  giving  copies  of  papo  s,  and  the  request 
was  referred  to  the  vestry,  which  immediately  granted  the  re- 
quest; I  think  unanimously. 

Q.  Was  there  any  rule  or  order  of  the  vestry  preventing 
access  to  the  list  of  corporators  ?  A.  Not  to  my  knowledge  or 
belief. 

Q.  Were  the  grants  made  by  the  vestry  made  in  a  partizan 
spirit,  or  with  reference  to  "  high  "  church  or  "  low  "  church 
opinions  ?  A.  I  always  endeavored  to  divest  my  mind  as  far  as 
possible  of  every  bias,  in  consulting  on  applications  made  to  the 
vestry,  and  I  believe  my  colleagues  were  equally  conscientious. 

Q.  Is  there  any  foundation  for  the  charge  that  there  was,  par- 
tiality in  making  appropriations  to  other  churches  1  A.  My 
answer  to  the  last  question  will  apply  also  in  a  great  measure 
to  this.  In  so  large  a  body  of  men  as  twenty-three,  tlie  number 
of  vestry  of  Trinity,  it  is  impossible  that  personal  predilections 
may  not  sometimes  influence  individuals  in  their  votes  on  appli- 
cations. I  believe  it  would  not  be  in  human  nature  to  be  other- 
wise. 

Q.  Was  each  application  discussed  and  decided  upon  its  merits 
and  the  ability  of  the  church,  without  reference  to  "high"  church 
or  "  low"  church  opinions'?    A.  Most  certainly. 

Q.  Is  there  any  ground  for  the  charge  that  the  stipends  have 
been  reduced,  or  have  they  merely  been  transferred  from  the 
wealthier  to  the  more  feeble  churches  ?  A.  My  impression  is 
that  the  aggregate  amount  of  the  stipends  is  as  large  now  as  at 
any  time  that  I  was  in  the  vestry.  The  stipends  have  been  re- 
duced and  sometimes  entirely  taken  away  from  richer  congrega- 
tions and  given  to  poorer. 

Q.  Do  you  think  Trinity  Church  has  done  its  utmost  to  make 
the  capital  cC  the  property  of  that  corporation  available  for  the 
founding,  su^ ;  art  or  promotion  of  religious,  charitable,  or  edu- 
cational institutions  or  purposes  1   A.  We  have  always  endea- 


236 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


vored  so  to  do,  and  as  far  as  the  revenue  of  the  church  went,  I 
think  we  succeeded. 

Q.  Is  it  true  that  the  aid  extended  to  feeble  churches  was 
done  reluctantly  or  offensively,  or  with  a  view  to  acquire  any 
power  or  influence  over  the  congregations  or  ministers  of  the 
churches  aided  1  A.  No.  To  the  first  clause  I  would  say,  on 
the  contrary,  that  it  always  gave  us  great  pleasure  when  we 
could,  to  respond  favorably  to  any  of  the  numerous  applications 
before  us. 

Q  Have  you  considered  the  mortgages  taken  for  grants  to 
churches  as  available  means  ?    A.  No. 

Q.  Were  they  taken  with  a  view  to  the  benefit  of  Trinity 
Church,  or  with  a  view  to  the  protection  of  the  church  thus 
mortgaged  1  A.  They  were  taken  with  a  view  to  prevent  that 
property  being  lost  to  the  church  at  large.  In  case  of  a  fore- 
closure of  a  previous  mortgage,  or  some  embarrassment  to  the 
church,  that  this  money  advanced  by  Trinity  should  return  to 
that  church  to  be  distributed  again,  or  returned  to  the  same 
church.  I  never  knew  of  any  case  of  a  foreclosure  of  a  mortgage 
while  I  was  in  the  vestry,  nor  do  I  believe  there  ever  was  one. 

Q.  Have  you  been  one  of  the  committee  to  examine  accounts  ? 
A.  Yes,  for  several  successive  years  I  was  chairman  of  said 
committee;  and  for  many  years  it  was  the  practice  of  the  comp- 
troller to  submit  his  bank^  check-book  and  monthly  statement  of 
accounts  to  the  standing  committee. 

Q.  Say  whether  there  was  or  not  free  access  to  all  the  books, 
accounts,  papers,  &c.,  of  the  office  7  A.  I  never  had  occasion  to 
ask  for  any  book,  account  or  paper,  which  was  not  freely  open 
to  me,  nor  do  I  believe  there  was  any  book,  or  account  or  paper, 
the  examination  of  which  would  have  been  refused. 

Q.  Will  you  explain  the  case  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  referred 
to  in  the  testimony  of  Rev.  Mr.  Beach,  in  pp.  119  and  120  of 
report  of  committed  A.  St.  Peter's  Church  was  aided  by 
Trinity  Church  to  the  amount  of  |2 5,000.  It  was  our  bond  for 
that  amount.    There  was  a  mortgage  given  by  St.  Peter's  to 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


237 


Trinity  Church  on  the  church  property,  to  secure  the  repayment 
of  this,  with  the  bond  of  three  of  the  congregation  as  collateral 
security.    Subsequently  St.  Peter's  church  borrowed  from  Mr. 
Lenox  $22,000,  for  which  they  gave  him  the  bond  of  the  same 
parties,  and  a  second  mortgage  on  the  church.    Trinity  Church 
released  those  who  had  signed  as  security  to  them  either  at  that 
time  or  subsequently,  and  the  mortgage  to  Trinity  Church  then 
became  an  ordinary  church  mortgage,  on  which  payment  was 
not  expected.    Mr.  Lenox  having  only  a  second  mortgage,  he 
probably  became  uneasy  as  to  his  security,  on  account  of  the 
accumulation  of  interest  on  the  prior  church  mortgage,  and, 
upon  an  application  of  St.  Peter's  church  to  the  vestry,  they 
consented  to  give  Mr.  Lenox's  mortgage  of  $22,000  a  priority  to 
the  extent  of  the  capital,  and  one  year's  interest  on  it  over  all 
the  interest  due  or  to  grow  due  on  our  church  mortgage.  That 
arrangement  was  made  in  July,  1844.    Subsequently,  about  18 
months  after  the  vestry  of  St.  Peter's  applied  to  us  to  give  Mr. 
Lenox's  mortgage  a  priority  over  our  mortgage,  or  to  discharge 
our  mortgage.    This  application  was,  after  mature  deliberation 
in  the  standing  committee  and  vestry,  declined,  on  the  ground 
of  the  general  policy  of  the  church  in  taking  these  mortgages 
as  security  for  the  benefit  of  the  church. 

By  the  committee : 

Q.  When  you  took  your  mortgage  on  St.  Peter's  was  it  not  on 
leased  ground  and  not  on  ground  in  fee  ?  A.  My  impression  is, 
and  I  think  that  I  am  right,  that  our  mortgage  was  upon  the 
church  edifice  and  the  lots  upon  which  it  stood,  which  were  in 
fee.  I  think  the  leased  lots  to  which  Mr.  Beach  referred  in  his 
testimony,  were  not  the  lots  included  in  our  mortgage. 

Q.  Was  not  your  mortgage  made  to  extend  over  seven  other 
lots  previously  held  under  lease  1    A.  I  don't  recollect. 

Q.  If  it  was  so  made,  was  not  your  security  increased  by  this 
arrangement?    A.  Undoubtedly  it  was. 

Q.  Do  you  know  of  any  landed  endowments  made  to  other 
curches  since  1 814,  by  Trinity  Church  ?   A.  I  do  not. 


238 


REPORT  OF    SELECT  COMMITTEE. 


Q.  Are  the  churches  of  the  Good  Shephard  and  St.  John  the 
Baptist,  feeble  churches  ?  A.  They  are  ;  the  annual  allowance, 
I  see  by  the  report,  is  $200  each.  The  church  of  St.  John  the 
Baptist  has  been  otherwise  largely  aided  lately  by  Trinity  Church. 

Q.  Is  Grace  church,  Brooklyn,  a  feeble  church  ?  A.  I  should 
hardly  sny  they  were  now. 

Q.  Is  St.  Luke's  church,  New-York,  a  feeble  church  ?  A.  It 
is,  it  could  not  be  sustained  but  for  the  aid  of  Trinity. 

Q.  What  is  the  annual  allowance  to  Grace  church,  Brooklyn  ? 
A.  The  church  report  says  it  is  $1,000.  The  explanation  is, 
that  when  Grace  church  was  built  we  granted  them  an  aid  to 
build  the  church  of  $15,000, payable  annually  in  sums  of  $1,000; 
and  this  is  not  yet  wholly  paid.  The  $1,000  annually  reported 
is  in  payment  of  it. 

Q.  Is  the  church  of  the  Good  Shepherd  or  St.  John  the  Bap- 
tist more  feeble  churches  than  St.  Luke's  ?  A.  It  is  almost 
impossible  for  me  to  say  as  to  the  comparative  feebleness  with- 
out the  statements  of  the  churches,  upon  which  we  pass  upon 
their  applications.  St.  Luke's  church  is  upon  the  property  ot 
Trinity  Church,  and  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  our  ten- 
ants. Trinity  has  set  aside  ground  near  there  for  the  purpose  of 
building  a  chapel,  when  we  can  afford  it ;  until  we  can  do  so  we 
have  telt  ourselves  obliged  to  sustain  St.  Luke's  church  as  the 
church  for  that  district. 

Q.  Is  the  church  of  the  Good  Shepherd  a  more  feeble  church 
than  St.  Luke's,  ?    A.  I  do  not  know. 

Q.  What  do  you  pay  annually  to  St.  Luke's,  according  to  the 
report  of  Trinity  church  ?  A.  $2,200.  I  presume  there  is  some 
explanation  that  might  be  given  in  this  case  also. 

Q.  Do  you  understand  there  is  any  legal  obstacle  to  the  col- 
lection of  church  mortgages,  if  the  church  is  so  disposed  ?  A. 
I  believe  there  is  no  legal  obstacle;  but,  if  we  should  attempt 
to  foreclose  one,  it  would  create  such  a  clamor  that  we  would 
never  hear  the  last  of  it. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY   CHURCH,  239 

Q.  Were  you  in  the  vestry  with  Mr.  Wolf  and  Mr.  Cyrus 
Curtiss?    A.  Yes. 

Q.  Do  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  consider*  themselves 
acting  for  the  Episcopalians,  generally,  in  New- York,  or  acting 
as  such  for  Trinity  church  parish?  A.  For  Trinity  church 
parish. 

Q.  These  grants  that  you  refer  to,  were  they  made  as  dona- 
tions of  the  property  of  Trinity,  or  as  property  held  in  trust  for 
the  beneiit  of  all  the  churches?  A.  They  were  made  as  the 
property  of  Trinity  Church. 

Q.  Do  you  think  the  income  of  Trinity  Church  was  greater  in 
1810  or  1812  than  it  is  now?  A.  We  were  much  richer  then  in 
lands,  but  I  don't  know  about  our  income. 

Q.  While  in  the  vestry,  did  you  know  of  all  expenditures, 
ecclesiastical  or  otherwise?  A.  There  were  no  expenses  except 
such  as  were  authorized  by  the  vestry,  and  I  had  the  same  op- 
portunity of  knowing  ihem  as  others. 

Q.  Have  there  been  any  expenses,  to  your  knowledge,  for 
other  than  ch'aritable,  religious  and  benevolent  purposes  ?  A. 
None  others  than  such  as  were  necessary  in  the  case  of  so  large 
a  property. 

Examination  by  counsel  for  Trinity  Church. — Gulian  C.  Ver- 
planckj  called  and  sworn  : 

Q.  Are  you  a  member  of  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  and 
how  long  have  you  been?  A.  I  am  a  member  of  the  Vestry, 
and  have  been,  since  1844,  whether  elected  at  the  annual  elec- 
tion of  1844,  or  to  fill  a  vacancy,  I  do  not  recollect;  about  12 
years. 

Q.  How  long  have  you  been  a  member  of  Trinity  Church  ? 
A.  I  was  a  corporator  and  pew-holder  as  early  as  1811,  but  have 
not  been,  continuously,  since  that  time. 

Q.  Did  members  of  other  congregations  vote  at  the  vestry 
elctions  of  Trinity  Church,  prior  to  1814?  A.  I  think  not,  for 
the  reasons  which  I  will  state.    At  the  first  election  at  which  I 


240 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


voted,  whicTi  was  in  1812,  there  was  an  excitement  growing  out 
of  a  parish  question,  the  contest  between  two  eminent  clergy- 
men, Dr.  Hobart  and  Mr.  Jones,  which  brought  out  the  full  vote 
or  nearly  so,  of  the  electors  entitled  to  vote  for  wardens  and 
vestry,  there  being  two  tickets  for  the  respective  parties.  I 
had  strong  feelings  for  one  of  these,  and  voted  for  one  of  the 
tickets.  I  confidently  believe  that  no  votes  other  than  those  of 
pew  holders  or  communicants  of  Trinity  Church  and  her  chapel 
were  received,  and  that  two  or  three  others  only,  who  were 
pew-holders  or  communicants  in  other  churches,  were  tendered 
and  refused.  This  general  recollection  of  my  own,  has  been 
recalled  and  confirmed,  so  as  to  give  me  great  confidence  in  it, 
by  the  inspection  of  nearly  contemporary  documents  stating  that 
fact. 

Q.  Has  any  suit  ever  been  brought,  or  proceeding  instituted, 
to  establish  the  right  of  a  member  of  any  other  church,  to  vote  at 
the  vestry  elections  of  Trinity  church  1  A.I  have  never  heard 
of  any  such  suit  or  proceeding,  and  I  think  there  can  have  been 
none,  because  from  my  after  connection  with  the  church,  as  a 
vestryman  and  an  occasional  inspector  of  annual  elections,  I 
think  I  must  have  heard  of  such  suit  or  proceeding,  if  any  such 
had  taken  place. 

Q.  Has  any  member  of  any  other  church,  not  a  pew-holder  or 
communicant  in  Trinity  church,  voted  at  the  vestry  elections 

of  Trinity  Church,  since  1814?  A.  I  believe  never,  unless  under 
some  mistake.  I  have  heard  of  a  vote  being  olfered,  and  rejected 
on  that  ground;  I  know  it  from  the  papers  of  the  day. 

Q.  Has  the  act  of  1814  been  acquiesced  in,  by  other  churches 
in  the  city  of  New- York  1  A.  I  think  so,  practically,  as  it  so 
rarely  happened  that  a  vote  was  ever  tendered  on  any  ground, 
but  that  of  being  a  corporator  of  Trinity,  or  a  communicant  or 
pew-holder.  I  recollect  but  one  instance;  there  may  have  been 
a  second,  allowing  for  some  absence  from  the  city  and  country. 

Q.  Have  you  ever  been  a  member  of  the  standing  committee? 
A.  Never. 

Q.  Have  you  had  free  access  to  the  books,  papers  and  accounts 
of  the  office?    A.  Perfectly  so.    Whenever  I  desired  a  book  or 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


241 


paper  I  was  shown  it,  and  I  frequently  had  and  used  opportuni- 
ties of  examining  important  books  without  asking  the  officers, 
from  the  publicity  with  which  the  minutes  and  other  papers 
were  kept  in  the  office. 

Q.  What  induced  you  in  making  such  examinations;  A. 
Sometimes  general  curiosity  and  a  wish  to  know  and  be  quali- 
fied to  act  upon  the  questions  which  came  before  us.  I  have, 
at  times,  also  examined  more  particularly,  and  even  had  state- 
ments made  for  the  use  of  the  vestry,  on  my  resolution,  for  the 
purpose  of  knowing  the  true  financial  state  of  the  corporation  of 
which  so  many  vague  notions  were  entertained- 

Q.  Were  you  chairman  of  the  Trinity  chapel  building  com- 
mittee 1  A.  I  was  chairman  of  a  committee  of  inquiry  into  the 
matter  of  location,  cost  of  construction;  and  again  chairman  of 
building  committee,  one  of  which  was  for  the  plan  most  re- 
sembling the  one  adopted;  it  was  a  plan,  the  estimated  cost  of 
which  was  about  $80,0l)0.  This  did  not  include  the  price  of 
land,  and  I  do  not  recollect  whether  it  included  the  organ.  The 
actual  cost  of  the  chapel  is  more  than  $200,000,  exclusive  of 
land.  I  am  not  as  precise  as  I  should  be,  because  there  are  cer- 
tain expenses  of  a  recent  building  of  a  gallery,  which  I  have  not 
seen  and  cannot  now  give. 

Q.  What  was  the  cause  of  the  excess  of  the  cost  of  that 
chapel  above  the  estimates  1  A.  The  chapel  was  not  built  by 
contract,  except  for  particular  objects,  such  as  the  delivery  of 
stone,  but  was  built  under  the  direction  of  an  architect  by  day's 
work.  One  cause,  forming  a  considerable  portion  of  the  extra 
expense,  was  delay  in  building  from  weather  and  non-delivery 
of  material,  &c.,  during  which  time  there  was  a  great  and  rapid 
rise  in  labor  and  material.  Another  and  also  large  increase 
arose  from  causes  familiar  to  all  who  have  had  experience  in 
constructing  public  or  private  buildings,  by  which  persons  hav- 
ing the  charge  of  buildings  have  been  tempted  to  enlarge  or  vary 
their  plans.  Having  had  some  personal  experience  on  public 
works  as  a  committee-man,  from  the  capitol  at  Washington 
down,  as  well  as  on  private  works,  I  find  it  to  be  very  common. 
A  third  cause  is  an  error  in  estimate  in  two  or  three  expensive 

16 


242 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE. 


items ;  the  cost  of  foreign  stone  for  the  lining  of  the  chapel ,  which 
much  exceeded  our  estimate.  I  was  very  much  vexed  at  the 
result,  and  regretted  the  excess. 

Q.  What  have  you  to  say  with  regard  to  the  appropriations 
mj^de  to  St.  Luke's  church  ?  A.  St.  Luke's  church  was  consid- 
ered, by  myself  and  other  members  of  the  vestry,  in  a  double 
relation.  First,  as  it  stood  to  us,  in  the  relation  of  a  great  land 
holder,  to  provide  for  our  own  tenants,  and  improve  our  own 
property,  among  which  St.  Luke's  stood.  Secondly,  as  a  con- 
siderable, and  poor  congregation.  I  knew  the  character  of  the 
congregation  chiefly  from  an  intimate  friend,  who  has  often 
spoken  of  himself  as  the  only,  or  almost  the  only  person  of 
means,  who  could,  or  did  do  anything  for  the  pecuniary  support 
of  the  church.  We  also  looked  to  keeping  the  congregation 
together,  with  the  view  of  transferring  it,  in  some  form  or  other, 
to  the  location  on  Hudson-street  burial  ground,  reserved  for  that 
purpose.  I  have,  on  those  grounds,  voted  cheerfully,  and  ex- 
pressed my  approbation  of  all  such  temporary  allowances  as  were 
thought  necessary  to  keep  up  the  church.  The  precise  amount 
recommended  I  have  had  nothing  to  do  with,  leaving  it  to  the 
judgment  of  the  committee. 

Q.  What  do  you  say  as  to  the  alleged  control  of  the  standing 
committee  ?  A  On  some  subjects,  it  is  necessarily  great — as  to 
the  valuation  of  property,  and  the  terms  on  which  property 
should  be  sold — they  being  familiar,  from  long  and  daily  experi- 
ence with  the  value  of  our  property  in  detail.  On  other  points, 
such  as  allowances  or  gifts  to  churches,  the  vestry  form  their 
own  judgment,  and  frequently  refer  matters  back  to  them  for 
reconsideration;  sometimes,  and  in  important  matters,  rejecting 
their  report,  and  making,  or  refusing  grants,  in  opposition  to 
theif  recommendation.  A  case  in  point  has  just  been  referred 
to  us  for  examination.  It  is  that  of  the  church  known  as  St. 
John  the  Baptist,  a  donation  to  which,  the  standing  committee 
had  reported  against,  and  which,  after  full  consideration  and 
debate,  was  granted,  nearly  to  the  amount  asked. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


243 


Q.  State  whether,  in  your  judgment,  the  funds  of  Trinity 
Church  have  been  judiciously  applied  7  A.  I  believe  they  have 
been  always  applied  with  an  honest  intention.  With  great  res- 
pect for  the  memories  of  our  predecessors  in  office,  I  think  now, 
and  have  before  very  often  expressed  the  opinion,  that  the  early 
policy  of  Trinity  Church  was  erroneous  in  making  large  endow- 
ments for  churches  which  became  filled  with  wealthy  and  fash- 
ionable people,  and  did  not  provide  for  the  wants  of  the  body  of 
the  Episcopalians  of  the  city  of  New- York.  I  think  the  present 
policy,  founded  on  experience,  is  far  wiser ;  by  the  present 
policy  I  mean  aid  to  poorer  congregations  in  New-York  and 
elsewhere,  in  the  form  of  stipends  or  money  grants,  and  espe- 
cially in  providing  for  the  religious  or  other  education  of  the 
poor  in  our  own  churches.  I  will  also  add  the  accommodation 
of  many  others,  who  cannot  literally  be  called  poor  ;  young 
clerks,  for  instance,  who  could  not  provide  themselves  with 
hired  pews. 

Q.  Is  it  true  that  the  grants  of  Trinity  Church  have  been 
made  in  a  partial  or  partizan  spirit,  as  regards  "  high  "  church 
or  low "  church  views  1  A.  I  have  never  observed  any 
evidence  of  it,  and  have  never  felt  it  myself  in  any  vote,  I  can 
say  with  a  clear  conscience. 

Q.  What  have  you  to  say  on  the  subject  of  free  churches] 
A.  I  have  taken  great  interest  in  them  ;  was  among  the  foun- 
ders of  the  City  Mission,  a  donor  and  occasionally  a  solicitor  of 
donations.  I  have  been  Vice-President  of  the  City  Mission,  and 
understand  I  now  am.  I  have  been  disappointed  in  the  results 
of  purely  free  churches,  which  I  fear  can  hardly  get  along  with- 
out an  endowment.  I  think  the  best  and  largest  example  of  a 
practical  without  a  nominal  free  church,  is  the  parish  church  of 
Trinity.  In  this  there  are  a  limited  number  of  pew-holders 
mixed  with  a  much  larger  body,  forming  a  large  congregation? 
who  need  free  accommodations.  It  is  practically  a  free  church, 
because  with  congregations  of  from  five  hundred  to  fifteen  hun- 
dred, I  perceived  just  before  I  left  town,  from  an  accidental 
inspection  of  the  list  of  pews,  that  the  actual  receipts  from  the 
pews  of  Trinity,  for  the  year  ending  in  May,  1856,  was  $157. 


244 


REPORT  OF    SELECT  COMMITTEE. 


At  St.  Paul's  the  sum  collected  was  $280,  for  the  same  period. 
I  will  add  that  my  personal  knowledge  is  of  Trinity,  where  I 
attend  with  considerable  regularity  about  half  the  year.  The 
operation  of  St.  Paul's  resembles  that  of  Trinity. 

Q.  What  have  you  to  say  as  to  the  value  of  property  of  Trinity 
church,  and  the  mode  of  valuation  in  its  report  ]  A.  I  had  no 
hand  in  making  out  the  report  made  to  the  Senate  of  the  value 
of  their  property,  but  I  think  that  no  other  mode  of  estimation 
than  that  of  the  sworn  assessors  could  have  been  made  and 
agreed  upon.  This  arises,  in  my  judgment,  from  the  church 
interest  being  a  reversionary  property,  falling  in  at  different  pe- 
riods, with  comparatively  a  small  income.  As  to  the  most  valu- 
able and  saleable  property  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city,  which 
has  recently  risen,  even  since  the  making  of  the  report,  the  high 
prices  chiefly  for  commercial  purposes,  my  own  experience  and 
observation  convince  me  that  it  is  impossible  to  calculate  with 
any  reasonable  ground  of  reliance  as  to  its  reversionary  value 
for  six,  eight  and  ten  years,  and  longer  periods  ahead.  I  speak 
both  from  observation  and  experience  on  this  subject.  I  have 
been  a  member  of  monied  institutions,  which  lend  on  mortgage, 
in  the  city  of  New-York;  such  as  the  Life  and  Trust  Company. 
I  have  observed  the  great  fluctuations  and  fall  of  value  in  parts 
of  the  city,  such  as  Pearl-street,  Hanover  Square.  I  have  ex- 
amined many  bonds  and  mortgages  of  this  character  while  in- 
quiring into  the  value  of  property.  I  have  myself  had  the 
management  and  control  of  property  in  Stone-street,  Pine-street, 
&c.,  which  in  1835-36,  was  of  great  value,  but  has  now  fallen 
one-half,  or  nearly  one-half  its  value  at  that  time,  owing  to  the 
transition  of  certain  branches  of  commercial  business  from  that 
locality  to  Eroadway,  and  the  streets  adjoining  it.  I  could  not, 
therefore,  myself,  as  the  same  occurrence  may  take  place,  esti- 
mate a  high  reversionary  value  ten  or  fifteen  years  hence,  from 
present  prices.  The  Astor  lease,  forming  a  large  portion  of  the 
property  of  the  church,  falling  in  in  ten  years,  is  a  mere  rever- 
sionary property,  producing,  at  present,  only  $269  per  anum. 
Such  property,  when  offered  in  large  amounts  at  a  time,  would 
not,  probably,  command  the  bids  or  offers  of  any  but  capitalists 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


245 


expecting  to  purchase  at  a  low  rate,  and  except  under  very  favo- 
rable circumstances,  would  hardly  bring  its  reversionary  value, 
<;alculated  on  the  assessed  value,  and  perhaps  not  so  much.  I 
form  that  judgment  with  the  full  knowledge  that  where  the  pro- 
perty is  not  encumbered  with  a  lease,  it  might  sell  for  more  than 
the  assessed  value.  For  these  reasons,  I  think  the  assessed 
value  the  only  one  that  the  church  could  properly  give,  or  the 
vestry  have  properly  agreed  upon, 

7  o'clock,  P  M. 

Gulian  C.  Verplanck's  testimony  continued. 

Q.  Will  you  state  what  appropriations  have  been  made  by 
Trinity  Church  to  institutions  of  charity  in  addition  to  those 
that  have  been  already  named  ?  A.  I  may  possibly  not  know  all 
that  have  been  named,  but  I  understand  no  mention  has  been 
made  of  the  annual  appropriation  to  the  church  of  the  Deaf 
Mutes,  which  consists  of  the  whole  annual  rent  of  the  church 
used,  and  also  a  stipend,  I  believe,  of  $300  or  more.  I  think  the 
rent  is  $500.  Another  stipend  is  a  charity  rather  than  a  church 
donation,  to  a  minister,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cook,  the  German  mission- 
ary at  Ward's  island  and  in  the  city  among  German  emigrants, 
I  think  the  allowance  is  $300.  I  suppose  I  may  add,  as  there 
has  been  an  allusion  to  it  in  a  previous  question,  that  he  is  a  "  low" 
churchman;  and  I  never  have  known  of  any  objection  being  made 
to  the  motion  I  make  every  year  for  the  appropriation .  A  similar 
annual  donation,  which  I  mention  as  falling  within  my  own 
knowledge  as  emigrant  commissioner,  is  that  of  Rev.  Mr.  Winslow^ 
Protestant  chaplain  for  the  Quarantine  hospital,  given  for  other 
services  to  emigrants  landing  at  Castle  Garden,  in  relation  to 
their  concerns  both  temporal  and  spiritual,  St.  Luke's  hospital 
received  substantially  from  Trinity  church  the  grounds  on  which 
the  hospital  is  built,  now  of  great  value,  which  took  effect  within 
a  year  or  two.  It  was  in  this  way :  Trinity  Church  had  some 
years  ago  leased  to  the  corporation  of  the  city  a  piece  or  square 
of  ground  to  be  used  as  a  market,  and  on  that  condition,  at  the 
foot  of  Duane-street.  A  hospital  and  church  for  British  emigrants 
called  the  church  and  hospital  of  St.  George  the  Martyr,  had' 


246 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


been  projected  and  in  part  carried  into  effect ;  expecting  to  collect 
sufficient  funds  here  and  in  England,  they  wanted  a  piece  of 
ground,  spacious  and  convenient  enough  for  a  hospital  building^ 
they  applied  to  Trinity  for  a  grant  for  this  purpose.  Trinity  had 
no  lands  suitable  for  it,  and  it  was  doubted  whether  they  had 
present  means  to  enable  them  to  buy  ;  about  the  same  time,  how- 
ever, the  market  at  the  foot  of  Duane-street  having  been  given  up, 
the  question  was  presented  whether  we  had  not  the  right  to  re- 
enter and  claim  our  property  at  the  foot  of  Duane-street.  The 
vestry  were  advised  that  they  could  do  so,  and  I  suppose  cor- 
rectly, but  some  friends  of  the  proposed  hospital  suggested  that 
the  unpleasantness  of  a  suit  against  the  corporation  would  be 
avoided,  and  a  great  good  obtained  by  negociation,  if  the  cor- 
poration  would  grant  a  certain  suitable  location  to  that  hospital, 
high  up  on  the  Fifth-avenue,  the  vestry  releasing  to  the  city 
corporation  their  rights  in  the  Duane-street  lot,  which  the  city 
authorities  were  desirous  of  selling  for  a  large  amount  to  the 
Erie  railroad.  This  was  carried  into  effect,  the  vestry  relin- 
quishing, for  that  purpose,  their  right  to  a  property  of  great 
value,  worth  perhaps  |40,000.  The  institution  of  St  George 
the  Martyr,  failing  for  some  reason,  St.  Luke's  was  substituted 
in  its  place,  and  the  property  was  transferred  to  St.  Luke's  hos- 
pital. Trinity  Church  formally  joining  therein.  I  consider  that 
the  property  was  therefore  obtained  by  St.  Luke's  hospital  by 
means  of  a  grant  from  Trinity  Church  ;  the  title  was  obtained 
from  the  corporation  of  New- York,  the  real  consideration 
thereof  being  the  land  released  by  Trinity  Church,  and  sold  for 
a  large  sum  to  the  Erie  railroad.  Our  last  assent  to  the  trans- 
fer to  St.  Lgake's  was  given  within  a  few  years  past. 

Q.  State  whether  there  is  any  order  of  the  vestry  prohibiting 
free  access  to  the  list  of  corporators  ?  A.  There  is  no  order  to 
that  effect ;  the  superior  officers  have  never  refused  to  my  know- 
ledge any  one.  I  cannot  say  what  the  clerks  may  have  done. 
The  books  lie  in  places,  open  all  day  at  least,  and  the  one  con- 
taining the  pew-holder  corporators  is  in  the  outer  office,  where 
pew  rents  are  collected,  and  frequently  examined  by  any  one,  I 
think,  who  has  the  curiosity.    The  book  containing  the  list  of 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


247 


communicant  corporators  is  kept  in  an  inner  office  on  an  open 
desk;  I  never  knew  the  examination  of  it  refused, 

Q.  Do  you  know  of  any  other  of  the  old  Episcopal  church 
charters  in  this  State,  granted  in  the  same  terms  as  that  of  Trinity 
Church?  A.  The  old  form  of  holding  church  property  before 
the  revolution,  was  the  rector,  wardens,  and  inhabitants  of  the 
town,  or  city  in  which  it  was,  in  communion  of  the  church  of 
England.  Several  of  these  were  altered  to  conform  to  the  new 
state  of  things  after  the  revolution^  retaining  their  own  name, 
except  modified  as  to  the  church  of  England.  Trinity  Church 
was,  by  a  special  act;  St.  Peter's,  Albany,  was  so  modified;  the 
church  with  which  I  have  been  long  connected,  in  Fishkill, 
Dutchess  county,  holds  its  burial  ground  and  buildings  under  a 
title  in  the  same  form.  It  reincorporated  itself  under  a  general 
act,  passed  in  1797,  and  its  corporate  title  Is,  the  rector,  war- 
dens and  inhabitants  of  Fishkill,  in  communion  of  the  Protestant 
.Episcopal  church."  There  are  two  other  Episcopal  churches, 
which  have  been  established  for  more  than  twenty  years,  in  the 
same  township,  but  they  have  never  claimed  either  the  property 
or  the  right  to  vote. 

By  the  committee. — Q.  If  the  lots  to  St.  Luke's  hospital  were 
given,  or  considered  by  the  church  their  property  to  give,  why 
were  they  omitted  in  their  report  made  in  1856 1  A.  I  presume 
for  the  reasons  already  stated,  that  they  were  not  directly  given, 
but  substantially  so,  and  therefore,  requiring  a  long  explanation, 
and  deeming  it  impossible  to  state  it  briefly  in  an  account  or 
abstract. 

Q.  Did  not  the  city  corporation  insist  that  Trinity  had  no 
right  to  those  Duane-street  lots  1  A.  I  do  not  know  that  they 
ever  insisted:  but  we  were  legally  advised  that  our  right  of  re- 
entry was  perfect;  and  those  who  represented  the  corporation 
were  willing  to  make  the  arrangement  I  have  mentioned,  and  to 
receive  our  formal  release. 

Q.  Did  the  city  corporation  dispute  your  right  to  the  lots  ? 
A.  It  may  have  been  verbally  denied  by  counsel  or  officers,  but 


248 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


they  were  sufficiently  satisfied  of  our  right  to  give  a  valuable 
property  for  the  release  of  our  right 5  as  we  requested. 

Q.  Did  you  ever  look  at  the  book  ot  corporators  kept  in  the 
inner  office  1  A.  Yes,  I  have  looked  at  it  in  order  to  see  if  per- 
sons were  not  entitled  to  be  entered  as  corporators  who  were 
omitted  through  their  own  negligence  or  indifference,  and  I  be- 
lieve there  were  many  such. 

Q.  Did  you  ever  look  at  the  cash  book  or  book  of  original 
entries  ?  A.  I  have  not,  never  having  had  occasion  to  do  sOy 
and  never  having  audited  any  accounts  except  those  of  the 
chapel  building. 

Q.  Did  you,  as  a  member  ol  the  vestry,  know  and  approve  of 
the  form  of  the  lease  of  pews  in  Trinity  chapel,  at  its  opening  ? 
A.  I  did  know  of  it,  and  did  not  approve  of  it,  because  I 
considered  it  a  measure  of  over  prudence,  calculated  to  expose 
us  to  misrepresentation  and  perhaps  to  give  offence.  The  motive 
of  those,  however,  who,  carried  it  tlirough,  was  that  of  precau- 
tionary prudence  against  the  intrusion  of  a  body  of  pew-holders 
who  had  no  sympathies  with  us  or  any  other  church.  It  was 
recommended  by  a  committee  and  approved  by  a  majority  of  the 
vestry.  It  was  repealed  before  it  could  have  any  practical 
effect. 

Q.  Do  you  know  of  any  churches  set  off  from  Trinity  Church 
since  18141   A.  None  have  been. 

Q.  Do  you  find  any  difficulty  in  getting  at  the  value  of  your 
property  when  you  sell  or  lease  1  A.  We  are  happily  in  a  situ- 
ation not  to  be  obliged  to  sell  or  lease  until  we  get  offers,  and  it 
is  then  a  subject  of  negotiation  with  our  officers  or  committeeSj 
of  which  I  am  not  one. 

Q.  Is  there  any  difficulty  in  getting  at  the  fair  value  of  your 
property,  when  it  is  in  a  condition  to  sell  or  to  lease  ?  A.  When 
the  lease  has  expired  there  is  not. 

Q.  Do  you  know  of  any  appropriations  by  Trinity  Churchy 
for  other  than  charitable,  religious  or  educational  purposes  1 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


249 


A.  In  the  management  of  so  large  a  property,  there  may  be 
many  miscellaneous  purposes  which  I  cannot  mention  in  detail, 
for  instance;  patriotic  purposes,  of  which  I  mention  three  in- 
stances, involving  some  expense,  not  discreditable  to  the  church. 
In  Trinity  churchyard  were  interred  the  remains  of  the  late 
gallant  Oapt.  Lawrence,  whose  memory  is  perpetuated  by  his 
last  words, Don't  give  up  the  ship."  A  monument  had  been 
erected  to  his  memory,  at  public  expense,  badly  built,  though 
well  meant,  and  for  iorty  years  it  had  fallen  into  decay.  It  was 
rebuilt  at  the  expense  of  the  church,  in  suitable  and  permanent 
style,  retaining  its  former  inscription.  A  similar  instance  within 
my  memory,  was  the  restoring  and  repairing  ot  the  monument, 
covering  the  remains  of  Alexander  Hamilton.  A  third  instance 
is  the  monument  now  erecting,  on  the  remains  of  revolutionary 
soldiers,  buried  in  the  western  part  of  Trinity  churchyard. 
The  monument  of  Gen.  Montgomery  in  front  of  St.  Paul's,  and 
in  the  church,  has  been  repaired  and  improved.  I  presume  that 
the  erecting  of  a  monument,  creditable  as  a  work  of  art,  to  the 
late  Bishop  Hobart,  can  hardly  be  considered  as  coming  within 
the  term,  charitable,  or  religious.  There  are  others  in  the 
management  of  the  real  estate,  which  any  other  large  landholder 
would  pay. 

By  the  counsel  for  Trinity  Church  : 

Q.  Do  you  know  of  any  improper  appropriation  of  the  funds 
of  the  church?    A.  I  know  of  none  for  improper  purposes. 

Q.  Have  any  churches  offered  to  be  set  off  from  Trinity,  since 
1814?   A.  None. 

The  committee,  by  request,  put  the  following  question  : 

Q.  Do  you  know  or  have  you  been  informed,  whether  Trinity 
Church  has  recently  had  any  person  employed  as  counsel  or 
otherwise,  belonging  or  attached  to  the  judicial,  executive  or 
legislative  department  of  the  State  government?  A.  I  do  not 
know  of  any,  and  I  add,  that  from  my  position  on  committees 
of  a  legal  and  executive  character  other  than  the  financial  and 
standing  committee,  I  must  have  known  if  any  such  person  had 
been  employed  now  or  for  some  years  past;  and  I  therefore  say, 


250 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


that  the  church  has  employed  no  person  now  in  the  judicial,  ex- 
ecutive or  legislative  department.  I  was  recently  asked,  whether 
a  certain  person  coming  within  that  description  had  been  re- 
tained, and  I  at  once  answered,  "  No."  Except  those  who  now 
appear  before  you  professionally  on  this  examination,  there  is  no 
person  employed  in  this  matter  except  Mr.  De  Zeng,  who  openly 
appears  as  our  agent. 

Adjourned  to  10  A.  M.,  Monday. 

Monday,  February  23,  1857. 
Present :  Senate  committee.     Messrs.  Spencer,  Noxon  and 
Ramsey;  |for  Trinity  Church,  Judge  Parker  and  0.  Meads,  Esq., 
Counsel. 

Gen.  John  A.  JDix^  called  and  sworn.  Examined  by  counsel 
for  Trinity  Church : — Q.  Will  you  state  generally  the  facts 
within  your  knowledge  in  regard  to  the  charges  made  against 
the  vestry  ot  Trinity  Church  1  A.  About  ten  day  ago  I  was 
subpoenaed  to  attend  the  committee  as  a  witness  ;  being  occu- 
pied with  important  business,  and  fearing  I  should  be  unable  to 
attend  before  the  labors  of  the  committee  were  closed ,  I  prepar- 
ed a  communication  addressed  to  the  chairman  of  the  committee, 
and  sent  it  by  Mr.  Livingston,  last  week.  The  session  of  the 
committee  having  been  extended  beyond  my  expectations  at  that 
time,  I  thought  it  proper  to  appear  before  them  in  person.  I 
have  this  communication  with  me,  and  if  the  committee  will 
permit  me  to  read  it,  I  think  it  will  save  them  a  good  deal  of 
time  in  preparing  questions,  and  myself  a  good  deal  of  incon- 
venience in  writing  out  answers. 

The  committee  assented  to  the  reading  of  the  communication 
in  answer  to  the  foregoing  question,  which  is  as  follows : 

I  have  just  seen  and  read  the  report  made  to  the  Senate  on  the 
29th  ult.,  by  the  committee  of  which  you  are  chairman,  together 
with  the  testimony  appended  thereto  ;  and  as  there  are  imputa- 
tions therein  derogatory  to  the  character  of  the  vestry  of  Trinity 
Church,  of  whom  I  am  one,  both  as  regards  their  fairness  and 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


251 


their  discreetness  in  the  execution  of  their  trust,  I  ask  leave  to 
submit  to  the  committee  the  following  statement :  Business  of  a 
very  urgent  nature,  affecting  the  interests  of  others,  which  I 
should  be  inexcusable  for  neglecting,  prevents  me  fn  ^i  visiting 
Albany.  I  should  otherwise  have  appeared  before  the  commit- 
tee, and  asked  them  to  take  my  testimony  orally,  instead  of  soli- 
citing their  indulgence  so  far  as  to  allow  me  to  present  it  in  the 
form  of  a  written  communication. 

I  was  appointed  a  vestryman  in  the  autumn  of  1849,  and  have 
served  in  that  capacity  to  the  present  time,  with  the  exception 
often  months  in  1854  and  1855,  during  which  I  was  absent  from 
the  country,  and  occasional  temporary  absences  from  the  State 
at  other  times.  I  have  attended  with  a  good  deal  of  regularity 
the  meetings  of  the  vestry,  and  have  taken  a  somewhat  active 
part  in  its  proceedings. 

I  do  not  propose  to  trouble  the  committee  with  any  discussion 
of  the  legal  rights  of  the  corporation  under  the  original  grants, 
by  which  it  holds  its  property,  or  the  legislative  enactments  by 
which  its  corporate  powers  have  been  confirmed  or  enlarged. 
Nor  do  I  intend  to  offer  to  the  committee  any  opinion  with  re- 
gard to  the  true  interpretation  of  those  enactments  or  grants. 
The  sole  object  of  this  statement,  which  is  made  on  my  own 
responsibility,  is  to  present  such  explanations  as  seem  to  me 
necessary  to  exonerate  myself  and  my  associates  from  charges 
which  have  been  brought  against  us  by  some  of  the  witnesses, 
and  which  do  us,  as  I  conceive,  great  injustice. 

I  beg  leave  to  say  further,  with  perfect  respect  for  the  com- 
mittee, and  the  body  by  which  it  was  appointed,  that  in  pre- 
senting this  statement  I  have  not  overlooked  the  vital  relation 
which  an  inquiry  instituted  by  one  branch  of  the  Legislature, 
through  the  action  of  a  committee,  into  the  administration  of 
the  internal  affairs  of  a  religious  corporation,  bears  to  the  rights 
of  every  ecclesiastical  body  in  the  State.  I  do  not  admit  the 
existence  oi  such  an  authority  as  has  been  exercised  in  regard 
to  the  body  with  which  I  am  connected,  more  especially  when 
carried  so  far  as  to  solicit  ex  parte  opinions  concerning  the 
motives  under  which  individuals  may  have  been  supposed  to 


252 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE. 


act.  And  I  cannot  but  think,  when  the  question  is  deliberately 
considered,  that  it  will  be  found  to  possess  a  most  important 
bearing  upon  the  rights  of  conscience,  which  it  was  one  of  the 
leading  objects  of  the  Constitution  to  secure;  a  question  well 
worthy,  under  this  aspect,  of  the  most  serious  public  regard. 
If  I  have  chosen  to  meet,  with  a  reservation  of  rights,  which  I 
deem  inviolable,  the  imputations  cast  upon  me  and  my  asso- 
ciates, instead  of  passing  them  by  in  silence,  it  is  in  order  that 
the  minds  of  the  committee,  the  Legislature,  and  the  community 
may  not  be  misled  by  the  testimony  in  which  those  imputations 
are  contained. 

Soon  after  my  connexion  with  the  vestry  commenced,  my 
attention  was  attracted  to  the  financial  condition  of  the  corpo- 
ration, which  seemed  to  me  very  unsatisfactory  Its  debt 
amounted  to  nearly  half  a  million  of  dollars,  and  by  reason  of 
the  large  donations  it  was  in  the  habit  of  making  to  other 
churches  its  revenue  had  become  inadequate  to  its  expenditures, 
and  the  annual  deficits  were  made  up  by  a  sale  of  property.  I 
regarded  this  practice,  though  founds  d  upon  a  generous  con- 
sideration for  the  wants  of  other  parishes,  and  a  desire  to  pro- 
mote the  advancement  of  the  interests  of  the  Episcopal  church 
in  the  city  and  the  State,  as  opposed  to  all  sound  principles  of 
finance.  No  fund  or  endowment  can  long  withstand  a  regular 
consumption  of  its  principal.  Encumbered  as  the  church  pro- 
perty was  by  leases,  it  could  rarely  be  sold  in  any  considerable 
parcels,  without  serious  sacrifice;  and  it  was  my  opinion  that 
the  contributions  of  the  church,  instead  of  being  enlarged,  should 
be  curtailed,  that  its  debts  should  not  be  increased,  that  its  ex- 
penditures should,  if  possible,  be  brought  within  its  income,  and 
that  its  property  should,  as  a  general  rule,  be  preserved  until 
the  expiration  of  its  leases,  when  it  could  be  sold  without  loss; 
thus  leaving  the  church  in  condition  to  carry  out  with  vigor  and 
success  the  great  plan  of  ministration,  which  seemed  to  me  to  be 
clearly  marked  out  by  changes  in  progress  in  the  distribution  of 
business  and  population  throughout  the  city. 

In  accordance  with  these  views,  when  it  was  decided  to  build 
a  chapel  in  the  upper  part  of  the  city,  in  order  to  preserve  to 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


253 


the  church  its  ancient  parishioners,  who  had  removed  in  large 
numbers  from  the  neighborhood  of  Trinity  church,  and  St. 
Paul's,  and  St.  John's,  I  introduced  a  resolution  providing  that 
the  corporate  debt  should  never  exceed  the  sum  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty-thousand  dollars  beyond  the  amount  of  its  bonds  and 
mortgages,  exclusive  of  those  given  by  churches.  The  latter 
were  excepted  for  the  reason  that  they  have  never  been  regarded 
as  an  available  resource.  No  interest  is  collected  on  them,  and 
they  are,  in  ftict,  held  by  the  corporation  for  the  purpose  of 
preventing,  in  case  of  emergency,  the  property  to  which  they 
attach,  from  being  devoted  to  secular  uses.  The  resolution  re- 
ferred to,  after  being  amended  so  as  to  increase  the  limit  of  the 
debt  to  three  hundred  thousand  dollars,  was  adopted. 

It  Is  due  to  entire  frankness  to  say,  that  I  was  opposed  to  the 
construction  of  Trinity  chapel,  believing  the  private  wealth  of 
the  district,  for  which  its  ministrations  were  designed,  suffi- 
cient to  furnish  them  without  the  aid  of  Trinity  church.  At 
the  same  time,  there  were  arguments  in  favor  of  the  measure, 
on  the  score  of  justice  and  practical  usefulness,  which  it  was 
not  easy  to  answer,  and  solicitations  from  old  and  faithful  friends 
of  the  church,  who  had  removed  to  the  upper  part  of  the  city, 
too  earnest  and  persuasive  to  be  resisted  by  the  vestry,  many  of 
whom  had  been  their  associates  from  an  early  period  in  life,  and 
who  were  naturally  reluctant  to  dissolve  the  connection  as  they 
approached  its  close. 

The  measure  having  been  resolved  on,  the  vestry  adopted  a 
plan,  which  the  architect  estimated  to  cost  forty  thousand  dol- 
lars. I  urged  its  adoption,  on  the  ground  of  its  comparatively 
small  cost,  and  I  particularly  pressed  on  the  vestry  the  conside- 
ration that  in  the  principal  parish  church  enough  had  been  done 
by  them  for  the  embellishment  of  the  architecture  of  the  city. 
At  a  subsequent  meeting,  a  majority  of  the  vestry,  deeming  the 
proposed  edifice  too  small,  or  perhaps  too  plain  for  the  position 
it  was  to  occupy,  adopted  another  plan,  estimated  by  the  archi- 
tect to  cost  seventy-nine  thousand  dollars.  It  was  never  intended 
by  the  vestry  to  exceed  that  sum.    But  those  who  have  had  any 


254 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


experience  in  building  churches,  know  not  only  how  little  confi- 
dence is  to  be  placed  in  such  estimates,  but  how  difficult  it  is  to 
adhere  to  original  designs;  and  they  will  be  disposed  to  consider 
the  vestry,  who  ultimately  found  themselves  involved,  greatly 
to  their  disappointment  and  annoyance,  in  an  expenditure  of 
two  hundred  and  thirty  thousand  dollars,  for  the  chapel  and 
site,  as  objects  of  sympathy  rather  than  censure. 

This  unlooked  for  expenditure,  and  the  continued  annual 
contributions  to  other  parishes,  which  the  vestry  were  unwilling 
to  abridge,  have  carried  the  corporate  debt  up  to  the  enormous 
sum  of  six  hundred  and  sixty-eight  thousand  dollars,  exceeding, 
by  the  sum  of  $469,000,  its  available  bonds  and  mortgages. 

It  is  well  known  that  the  greater  part  of  the  city  below  Cham- 
bers-street is  devoted  to  purposes  of  business,  and  that  private 
dwellings  have  given  place  to  stores  and  warehouses.  The 
wealthy  portion  of  the  population  has  gone  to  the  upper  dis- 
tricts, and  most  of  the  churches  of  all  denominations  have 
followed  them.  The  North  Dutch,  which  is  still  engaged  in 
useful  spiritual  labors  in  the  neighborhood  of  St.  Paul's;  the 
Methodist  church  in  John-street,  unhappily  rent  by  internal 
strife;  and  St.  Peter's,  a  Roman  Catholic  church  on  Barclay- 
street,  still  maintain  their  ground.  With  these  exceptions.  Trinity 
church,  St,  Paul's,  and  the  church  in  Beekman-street,  formerly 
St.  George's,  purchased  and  now  entirely  supported  by  Trinity, 
stand  alone  in  this  great  deserted  field  of  labor.  The  same  pro- 
cess is  going  on  above  Chambers-street;  and  in  a  few  years  there 
will,  in  all  probability,  be  no  churches  below  Canal-street  but 
those  of  Trinity  parish.  Notwithstanding  this  exodus  of  wealth, 
a  vast  population,  the  inhabitants,  in  great  part,  of  alleys,  gar- 
rets and  cellars,  estimated  to  exceed  one  hundred  and  twenty 
thousand  souls,  occupy  the  field  it  has  abandoned;  and  if  Trinity 
church  had  followed  the  same  instincts,  which  have  drawn  off 
the  other  religious  societies  of  the  city  to  its  more  attractive 
districts,  if  she  also  had  abandoned  to  their  fate  the  poor  and 
necessitous,  whom  wealth  and  fashion  have  bequeathed  to  her, 
the  lower  part  of  the  city  would  have  presented  an  example  of 
religious  destituion  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  Christian 
civilization. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


255 


It  was  in  view  of  this  great  change  in  the  condition  of  the 
population  of  the  city  that  I  introduced  into  the  vestry  on  the 
10th  April,  1851,  the  following  resolutions  : 

Resolved  J  That  the  standing  committee  be  instructed  to  report 
a  plan  by  which  the  expenditures  of  the  corporation  shall  be 
limited  to  its  income. 

Resolvedj  That  the  said  committee  be  instructed  to  inquire 
into  the  expediency  of  making  the  seats  in  Trinity  Church  and 
in  St.  Paul's  and  St.  John's  chapels  free. 

Resolved,  That  the  said  committee  be  instructed  to  inquire  into 
the  expediency  of  establishing  free  schools  in  connexion  with 
Trinity  Church  and  its  chapels. 

Resolved,  That  the  said  committee  be  instructed  to  inquire 
into  the  expediency  of  devoting  the  funds  of  the  corporation,  as 
far  as  may  be  practicable,  after  making  provision  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  new  chapel  in  25th-street,  to  the  education  and  reli- 
gious instruction  of  the  poor  of  the  city. 

The  last  resolution,  as  originally  presented,  was  confined  to 
the  poor  of  the  city  below  Canal-street,  and,  on  the  suggestion  of 
a  member  of  the  vestry,  it  was,  in  view  of  future  contingen- 
cies, amended  so  as  to  embrace  the  whole  city. 

This  is  the  plan  which,  nearly  four  years  ago,  I  deemed  it  my 
duty  to  bring  before  the  vestry.  It  was  supported  by  a  some- 
what labored  argument,  which  was  not  committed  to  paper,  and 
which  I  will  not  tax  the  patience  of  the  committee  by  attempt- 
ing to  recall  to  remembraee.  I  trust,  indeed,  that  no  such  ex- 
position is  necessary,  and  that  the  resolutions  sufficiently 
explain  their  purpose.  Their  design  was  to  rescue  the  lower 
part  ol  the  city — that  portion  which  has  not  only  an  im- 
mense body  of  resident  poor,  but  which  receives  into  its 
bosom  the  greater  part  of  the  destitute,  who  seek  a  refuge  here 
from  hardships  in  other  countries — to  rescue  this  combined  mass 
of  permanent  and  temporary  indigence  from  the  utter  spiritual 
abandonment  with  which  it  was  threatened  by  the  removal  of 
those  to  whose  wealth  and  liberality  it  had  been  accustomed  to 


256 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


look  for  sympathy  and  pecuniary  aid,  to  more  congenial  dis- 
tricts. The  plan  comprehended  not  only  the  spiritual  instruc- 
tion of  the  adult  inhabitants  of  this  deserted  district— once  the 
seat  of  nearly  all  the  wealth  of  the  city— but  the  education  of 
their  children,  and,  to  the  extent  of  the  means  of  the  corpora- 
tion, a  ministration  to  their  temporal  wants.  Trinity  Church, 
with  its  endowments,  fortunately  growing  more  valuable  with 
the  progress  of  the  city,  was  to  stand  in  the  place  of  the  indi- 
vidual opulence,  which  has  fled  from  a  district  where  its  tastes 
cculd  no  longer  find  suitable  fields  for  indulgence,  and  estab- 
lished itself  in  others,  where  it  has  rivaled  Genoa  in  its  streets 
ot  palaces,  and  where  in  all  its  appointments  and  manifestations 
of  indoor  and  outdoor  life,  there  is  a  concentration  of  refine- 
ment, luxury  and  splendor  unequalled,  excepting  by  a  few  of 
the  great  capitals  of  Europe. 

It  is  possible  that  I  may  have  looked  upon  this  plan  with  that 
undue  partiality  which  individuals  are  apt  to  feel  for  suggestions 
originating  with  themselves.  But  it  has  seemed  to  me  to  have 
been  among  the  designs  of  Providence  that  Trinity  Church 
should  have  been  planted  in  this  great  district,  ready  with  her 
ample  endowments,  to  make  provision,  when  the  emergency 
should  arrive,  for  those  whom  individual  wealth  has  left  upon 
her  hands.  I  hold  this  to  be  the  great  mission  of  Trinity  Church, 
and  I  have  pressed  on  the  vestry,  on  all  proper  occasions,  the 
duty  of  preparing  for  it,  and  of  commencing  the  work  with  the 
utmost  diligence.  Though  the  plan  has  not  been  formally 
adopted,  it  has  been  practically  acted  on;  and  it  is  due  to  my 
associates  in  the  vestry  to  say,  that  they  have  responded  to  all 
appeals  in  behalf  of  the  destitute  districts  below  Canal-st.,  by  as 
liberal  an  expenditure  as  the  income  of  the  corporation,  crippled 
by  a  heavy  debt,  and  burdened  by  large  annual  contributions  to 
other  churches,  has  admitted.  The  clerical  force  of  the  parish 
has  been  nearly  doubled  ?  the  Sunday  schools  have  greatly  en- 
larged; parish  schools  for  the  gratuitous  education  of  children 
have  been  established;  by  far  the  greater  part  of  the  pews  in  Trin- 
ity Church, one  hundred  and  four  out  of  one  hundred  and  forty- 
four  in  St.  Paul's  and  a  large  number  in  St.  John's  have  been  made 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH.  257 

free;  efforts  have  been  put  fortli  to  bring  into  the  church  those, 
who  have  not  been  accustomed  to  attend  any  religious  worship; 
Trinity  church  is  opened  twice  every  day  throughout  the  year, 
for  divine  service;  a  mission  office  has  been  established  to  re- 
ceive applications  for  aid;  lay  visitors  are  employed  to  seek  out 
w^ant  and  relieve  it;  missionary  agencies  have  been  instituted  in 
connection  with  the  Commissioners  of  Emigration;  t!ie  whole 
lower  part  of  the  city  has  been  virtually  made  a  field  of  mis- 
sionary labor,  and  a  degree  of  energy  has  been  infused  into  the 
ministrations  of  the  church,  temporal  and  spiritual,  which 
compensates,  in  a  great  degree,  for  the  lost  support  of  the 
religious  societies  removed  to  other  districts.  In  the  midst  of 
all  this  earnest  effort,  with  five  of  her  clergy  residing  within 
this  neglected  field  of  labor,  convei-sant  with  little  else  than 
its  destitution,  and  devoting  themselves  to  the  Jreliet  of  J  its 
wants.  Trinity  Church  finds  herself  assailed,  as  faithless  to  her 
trust,  by  those,  for  the  most  part,  whose  lives  are  past  amid 
the  social  amenities  of  the  upper  districts,  and  in  an  atmosphere 
redolent  of  indulgence  and  luxurious  ease. 

It  was  not  supposed  by  me,  when  this  plan  was  b^;otight  for- 
ward^ that  it  could  be  fully  carried  out,  until  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  leased  property  of  the  church  should  become 
available  for  the  purpose.  It  was  only  expected  that  a  begin- 
ning should  be  made,  and  tliat  the  plan,  in  its  great  outlines, 
should  have  a  practical  adoption.  However  earnest  the  desire 
to  put  it  in  operation  at  an  earlier  period,  the  unexpected  aug- 
mentation of  her  debt,  not  only  renders  such  a  desire  hopeless, 
but  manifests  that  it  may  be  even  further  postponed,  or  possibly 
defeated,  without  a  prudent  husbandry  of  her  resources. 

For  the  better  illustration  of  this  point,  I  annex  a  statement 
of  the  revenue  and  ordinary  expenditures  of  the  corporation,  for 
the  year  ending  the  30th  April,  1856. 


Revenue. 

1.  From  ground  rents  of  real  estate,   $67,359  53 

2.  "    pew  rents,   6,998  50 

3.  "    interest  on  bonds  and  mortgages, ....  . . 13,259  40 

4.  Trinity  Church  cemetery,   4,155  92 


17 


$91,773  36 


258 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Expenditures. 

1.  Parish  expenditures,  including,  (besides  those  obviously  such) 
charges  upon,  and  expenses  of  management  and  care  of  the 
property  of  the  church,  necessary  diocesan  expenses,  and 
annuities  to  families  of  deceased  clergymen,  or  to  officers^of 


the  parish,   $71,344  22 

2.  Interest  on  debt,   36,522  15 

3.  Allowances,  donations,  and   loans   to  other 

churches,   32,052  42 

$139,918  79 

Deduct  revenue,   91,773  36 

t   

And  there  is  a  deficit  of,   $48,145  43 

for  the  year  ending  30th  April,  1856. 


The  deficiency  for  the  year  ending  30th  April,  1857,  was  esti- 
mated on  1st  May  last,  at  $40,638.66.  The  grants  actually  made 
by  the  corporation,  to  clergymen  and  churches,  to  be  paid  during 
the  year,  in  addition  to  the  regular  allowances,  amount  to 
$11,  640,  and  the  appropriations  for  building  school-houses  and 
renovating  and  enlarging  St.  John's  chapel,  to  $28,000,  making 


together   $39,640  00 

Deduct  cash  on  hand  1st  May,  1856,   10,016  38 

$29,623  62 

Add  estimated  deficiency,   40,638  66 

And  there  will  be  a  deficit  of   $70,262  28 


for  the  year  ending  the  30th  April,  1857. 

This  deficit  can  only  be  made  by  selling  real  estate.  The 
deficits  for  the  last  ten  years,  exceed  two  hundred  and  seventy 
thousand  dollars,  and  the  corporation  has  provided  for  them  by 
selling  lots  and  applying  the  proceeds  to  the  augmentation 
of  her  insufficient  income.  While  she  is  assailed  as  niggardly  in 
her  donations,  and  as  engaged  in  a  systematic  accumulation  of 
her  capital^  she  has  in  fact,  for  years,  been  selling  her  real 
estate,  and  meeting  with  the  proceeds,  the  pressing  demands  on 
her,  a  large  portion  of  which,  have  grown  out  of  her  contribu- 
tions for  the  support  of  other  churches. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


259 


The  estimated  expenditure  of  the  present  year,  continued  till 
18G2,  would  consume  so  much  of  the  Lispenard  lease,  which  be- 
comes disencumbered  in  that  year  and  embraces  a  large  and 
valuable  part  of  her  real  estate,  as  to  leave  her  a  balance  insuf- 


ficient to  pay  her  debt,  which  is  now   $668,813  00 

This  debt  may  be  reduced  by  mortgages,   199,469  00 

To  the  sum  of,   469,344  00 

Add  deficits  of  |70,278.66  for  five  years,   351,311  40 

And  there  will  be  the  sum  of   |820,655  40 


to  be  provided  for  by  sales  of  real  estate ;  a  sum  exceeding  the 
highest  estimate  in  the  report  of  the-  committee  of  the  value  of 
the  Lispenard  lease;  and  unless  the  prices  of  real  estate  become 
greatly  enhanced  during  the  next  five  years,  nothing  will  remain 
of  the  lease  referred  to,  after  discharging  the  pecuniary  obliga- 
tions above  specified,  a  portion  of  which  must  be  provided  for 
by  sale  of  other  property. 

The  expenditures  of  the  parish  cannot  be  materially  abridged 
without  prejudice  to  its  interests;  and  the  vestry  are  unwilling 
to  reduce  the  annual  allowances  to  other  churches,  believing  that 
such  a  reduction  would  cause  great  inconvenience  to  the  reci- 
pients, and,  in  some  cases,  impair  to  a  serious  extent  the  effi- 
ciency of  the  parishes  thus  assisted. 

In  regard  to  the  necessity  of  allowing  the  capital  of  her  en- 
dowment to  be  consumed  by  the  current  expenses  of  the  church, 
I  have  differed  in  opinion  with  a  majority  of  the  vestry.  While 
they  have  deplored  it  and  yielded  to  it  as  a  necessity,  I  have 
been  in  favor  of  meeting  it  by  retrenchment,  and  bringing  down 
the  expenditure,  as  nearly  as  may  be,  to  the  standard  of  the  in- 
come. I  have  urged  this  duty  on  the  vestry  as  one  demanded 
by  every  maxim  of  financial  prudence,  and  with  the  less  reluc- 
tance as  the  inconvenience  to  result  from  it  would  be  of  short 
duration;  for  if  the  real  estate  disposable  in  1862,  or  the  great 
mass  of  it,  can  be  kept  undiminished  until  that  time,  the  church 
will  be  in  a  condition  to  prosecute  the  great  plan  of  ministra- 
tion she  has  entered  on,  with  an  efiiciency  which  cannot  fail  to 


260 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


produce  results  of  the  highest  importance  to  the  city  and  the 
State.  If  I  have  thought  the  vestry  in  error  in  this  respect,  it 
is  not  because  I  have  considered  them  lacking  in  liberality,  but 
because  they  have  yielded  under  impulses  highly  honorable  to 
their  feelings,to  an  outside  pressure  for  contributions,  which,  in 
view  of  the  deep  and  lasting  interests  involved  in  the  question, 
I  would  have  resisted. 

This  is  J  in  truth,  the  only  ground  of  apprehension  In  regard 
to  the  success  of  the  plan  of  religious  instruction  for  the  poor 
in  the  lower  part  of  the  city.  It  must  utterly  fail  if  Trinity 
Church,  for  the  purpose  of  meeting  a  regular  series  of  annual 
deficits  in  her  revenue,  caused  to  a  great  extent  by  her  contri- 
butions to  other  churches,  shall  consume  her  real  estate;  and  for 
this  reason  I  would  incur  a  temporary  inconvenience  for  the 
purpose  of  carrying  out  a  great  system,  the  benefits  of  which 
would  be  incalculable  in  value  and  endless  in  duration. 

To  hold  her  real  estate  until  it  is  unencumbered  andean  be  sold 
without  sacrifice,  is  in  no  just  sense,  an  accumulation  of  capital. 
To  accumulate,  is  to  augment  by  a  reinvestment  of  income,  or  in 
other  words,  to  convert  revenue  into  principal.  If  her  income 
exceeded  her  necessary  expenditures,  if,  instead  of  contributing 
it  to  the  wants  of  otiiers  she  were  to  withhold  it,  and  use  it  for 
the  augmentation  of  her  capital,  she  would  be  fairly  obnoxious 
to  the  imputation  cast  upon  her.  Instead  of  erring  in  this  di- 
rection she  has,  as  has  been  shown,  been  for  a  series  of  years 
expending  large  portions  of  the  principal,  and  mainly  for  the 
purpose  of  making  donations  to  other  parishes. 

In  proof  of  this  position,  I  submit  the  following  statement  of 
the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  corporation  for  the  last  ten 
years,  with  the  annual  deficits  of  income,  and  the  allowances, 
donations  and  loans  to  other  churches.  I  have  prepared  it  from 
the  books  of  the  corporation,  and  it  has  been  examined  and  com- 
pared by  Mr.  Dunscombe,  the  comptroller,  and  myself,  with  a 
general  statement  of  the  financial  affairs  of  the  church  for  the 
same  period,  made  by  Mr  Roach,  an  experienced  accountant, 
and  I  believe  it  to  be  in  all  respects  correct. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH.  261 

Year  ending  ZOth  Jpril^  1847. 

Revenue,   $68,498  47 

Expenditure,   94,791  93 

Deficit,   $26,293  46 

Allowances  to  other  parishes,   $10,825  00 

Donations,   5,134  00 

Loans,   500  00 

Total  allowances,  &c.,   $16,559  00 

Year  ending  30th  Jpril,  1848. 

Revenue,   $74,258  54 

Expenditure,   95,984  28 

Deficit,   $21,725  74 

Allowances  to  other  parishes,   $10,175  00 

Donations,   7,800  50 

Loans,   3,900  00 

Total  allowances,  &c.,   $21,875  50 

Year  ending  SOth  ^pril,  1849. 

Revenue,   $78,869  85 

Expenditure,   88,096  79 

Deficit,   $9,226  94 

Allowances  to  other  parishes,   $12,600  00 

Donations,   4,889  14 

Loans,   3,800  00 

Total  allowances,  &c.,   $21,289  14 

Year  ending  SOth  Jipril^  1850. 

Revenue,   $77,799  63 

Expenditure,   95,741  11 

Deficit,   $17,941  48 


262  REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 

Allowances  to  other  parishes,   $13,000  00 

Donations,   4,705  18 

Loans,   12,198  00 

Total  allowances,  &c.,   $29,903  18 

Year  ending  SOth  Afril^  1851. 

Revenue,   $75,871  31 

Expenditure,   100,233  44 

Deficit,   $24,  362  13 

Allowances  to  other  parishes,   $13,683  00 

Donations,   4,488  13 

Loans,   f  ,377  00 

Total  allowances,  &c.,   $27,548  13 

Year  ending  SOth  Jipril^  1852. 

Revenue,    $77,979  77 

Expenditure,   108,317  39 

Deficit,   $30,337  62 

Allowances  to  other  parishes,  $14,715  00 

Donations,   12.806  72 

Loans,   7,650  00 

Total  allowances,  &c.,   $35,171  72 

Year  ending  SOth  Jpril,  1853. 

Revenue,    $86,073  97 

Expenditure,   110,592  66 

Deficit,   $24,518  69 

Allowances  to  other  parishes,   $16,785  00 

Donations,   9,186  21 

Loans,   7,700  00 

Total  allowances,  &c.,   $33,671  21 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH.  263 

Year  ending  SOtk  Jlpril^  1854. 

Revenue,   $85,710  53 

Expenditure,   137,078  99 

Deficit,   $51,368  46 

Allowances  to  other  parishes,   $21,706  00 

Donations,   6,916  26 

Loans,   17,100  00 

Total  allowances,  &c.,   $45,722  26 

Year  ending  SOth  Jlpril^  1855. 

Revenue,   $95,195  72 

Expenditure,   114,677  30 

Deficit,    $19,677  30 

Allowances  to  other  parishes,   $15,058  33 

Donations,   7,290  16 

Loans,   2,000  00 

Total  allowances,  &c.,   $24,348  49 

Year  ending  30^/i  Jipril^  1856. 

Revenue,   $91,773  36 

Expenditure,   139,918  79 

Deficit,   $48,145  43 

Allowances  to  other  parishes,   $15,500  00 

Donations,   10,552  42 

Loans,   6,000  00 

Total  allowances,  &c.,   $32,052  42 


264 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Recapitulation. 


Deficits.  Allowances,  &e. 

1847,                                              $26,293  46  $16,559  00 

1848,                                                21,725  74  21,875  50 

1849,                                                  9,226  94  21,289  14 

1850,                                                17,941  48  29,903  18 

1851,                                                24,362  13  27,548  13 

1852,                                                30,337  62  35,171  72 

1853,                                                24,518  ^)9  33,671  21 

1854,  =                                      51,368  46  45,722  26 

1855,                                                19,677  30  24,348  49 

1856,,...                                          48,145  43  32,052  42 


$273,597  25    $288,141  05 


.Analysis  of  Jlllowances ^  ^c. 

Allowances.                       Donations.  Loans. 

1847,  $10,825  00    $5,134  00    $600 

1848,                  10,175  00                 7,800  50    3,900 

1849,                  12,600  00                  4,889  14    3,800 

1850,                  13,000  00                  4,705  18    12,198 

1851,                  13,683  00                  4,488  13    9,377 

1852,                  14,715  00    12,806  72    7,650 

1853,                  16,785  00  ......    9,186  21    7,700 

1854,                  21,706  00                  6,916  26    17,100 

1855,                  15,058  33                  7,290  16    2,000 

1856,                  15,500  00    10,552  42    6,000 


$144,047  33  $73,768  72  $70,325 

Allowances,   144,047  33 


Allowances  and  donations,  $217,816  05 

Loans,   70,325  00 


$288,141  05 


By  this  statement,  it  appears  that  the  deficits  of  revenue  in 
the  last  ten  years  amount  to  $273,597.35,  and  the  amount  given 
away  and  contributed  to  the  support  of  other  parishes  is 
$288,141.05,  exceeding  the  aggregate  deficit  by  the  sum  of 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


265 


$15,573.80;  and,  as  I  have  already  said,  the  whole  deficit  of  the 
ten  years,  incurred  for  the  benefit  of  others,  has  been  made  up 
by  a  sale  of  real  estate,  and  is  to  that  extent,  a  consumption  of 
principal. 

Several  of  the  witnesses  have  testified  that,  in  granting  aid  to 
other  churches,  the  vestry  have  acted  under  the  influence  of 
party-feeling,  refusing  assistance  to  those  who  differ  with  them 
in  opinion,  and  granting  it  freely  to  those  whose  views  are  in 
accordance  with  their  own. 

I  feel  it  to  be  my  solemn  duty  to  repel  this  imputation,  by 
stating  my  own  experience.  I  have  been  more  than  seven  years 
a  member  of  the  vestry,  and  have  been  on  terms  of  the  most 
unreserved  and  confidential  communication  with  my  associates. 
I  have  discussed  with  them  the  propriety  of  granting  and  declin- 
ing applications  for  aid,  not  only  at  nearly  all  the  meetings  of 
the  vestry,  but  in  many  cases  in  private  interviews;  and  no 
reference  has  ever  been  made  by  me  or  by  any  one  of  them,  at 
any  meeting,  official  or  private,  to  the  party  views  of  any  of  the 
rectors,  or  religious  societies  presenting  such  applications.  The 
party  divisions,  which  have  existed  for  several  years  in  the  Epis- 
copal church,  and  which  have  not  only  impaired"its  capacity  for 
doing  good,  but  dishonored  those  on  both  sides  who  have  been 
active  in  keeping  them  alive,  have  never  been  a  subject  of  dis- 
cussion at  any  meeting  of  the  vestry  which  I  have  attended;  nor 
have  they  been  alluded  to  in  connexion  with  applications  for 
aid.  I  have  taken  a  deep  interest  in  several  applications  myself, 
and  have,  perhaps,  had  some  influence  in  securing  grants  of 
money  to  the  applicants,  and  in  no  instance,  have  I  inquired 
what  were  the  particular  views  of  the  rector  of  the  parish  to 
which  they  belonged.  I  do  not  even  know  to  this  day  whether 
they  are  high  church  or  low  church.  The  only  inquiries  ever 
made  were  in  regard  to  their  pecuniary  and  social  condition  and 
their  need  of  assistance;  and  these  considerations,  together  with 
the  ability  of  Trinity  Church  at  the  time  to  make  the  grants 
asked  for,  and  the  probability  that  the  grants  would  be  effective 
for  the  objects  in  view,  have  been  the  only  ones  which  have 
guided  me  in  my  votes.    I  believe  the  other  members  of  the 


266 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


vestry  have  been  equally  free  from  the  influence  of  party 
motives.  My  belief  is  founded  upon  my  knowledge  of  them  as 
enlightened,  conscientious  and  liberal  men,  and  upon  all  they 
have  said  and  done  in  my  presence  through  a  familiar  associa- 
tion of  seven  years.  I  cannot  be  supposed  to  have  been  deceived 
in  regard  to  their  principles  of  action,  but  upon  the  hypothesis 
of  a  depth  of  dissimulation  on  their  part  and  an  obtuseness  of 
perception  on  my  own,  too  gross  for  the  largest  credulity. 

I  can  say  with  the  same  confidence,  that  I  do  not  believe  those 
who  have  the  management  of  the  affairs  of  Trinity  Church,  have 
sought,  during  the  period  of  my  connection  with  them,  a  period 
of  a  good  deal  of  excitement,  to  influence  rectors  or  parishes  on 
any  question  in  the  diocese  through  the  imstrumentality  of  her 
donations.  It  is  due  to  others  to  add,  that  I  have  for  several 
years  attended  the  conventions  of  the  diocese  and  become  ac- 
quainted with  a  large  number  of  the  clergy,  I  have  rarely 
met  a  more  intelligent  or  independent  body  of  men  ;  and  I 
regard  the  intimation  that  they  would  be  governed  in  the  doc- 
trines they  teach  or  in  the  official  acts  they  have  to  perform,  by 
considerations  arising  out  of  the  pecuniary  aid  their  parishes  may 
have  received  from  Trinity  Church,  as  alike  ungenerous  and 
unjust.  In  a  word,  I  consider  all  these  imputations  of  influence 
on  the  one  hand  and  of  subserviency  on  the  other,  as  the  offspring 
of  mere  groundless  suspicion  ;  and  they  are  in  some  instance  so 
loosely  hazarded,  as  to  make  it  the  part  of  charity  to  refer  them 
to  the  same  narrow  and  distempered  views  of  d'aty,  which  are 
falsely  imputed  to  the  vestry  of  Trinity. 

I  have  thus  laid  before  the  committee,  with  entire  frankness, 
a  statement  of  my  connection  with  Trinity  Church,  and  the  part 
I  have  borne  in  the  management  of  her  financial  affairs,  and  the 
great  scheme  of  religious  and  temporal  ministration,  which  I 
desire  to  see  carried  out  under  her  auspices  and  through  the  aid 
of  her  endowments,  in  the  lower  districts  of  the  city.  I  do  not 
believe  the  importance  of  giving  effect  to  this  plan  can  be  over- 
stated. The  funds  of  Trinity  Church  are  the  only  resource  for 
accomplishing  it  ;  she  must  execute  it  or  it  will  fall  to  the 
ground,  and  the  district  in  which  three  of  her  church  edifices 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


267 


stand,  become  nearly  desolate  for  all  spiritual  purposes.  TLe 
prosperity  of  the  city  is  deeply  involved  in  it;  destitution,  tem- 
poral and  spiritual,  goes  hand  in  hand  with  crime;  and  when 
even  now  the  spirit  of  acquisitiveness  which  is  characteristic  of 
the  age,  and  has  become  its  greatest  scourge,  is  dishonoring  it  by 
forgeries  the  most  bare-faced  and  staining  it  by  murders  the  most 
foul,  what  shall  be  our  social  condition,  if,  in  a  large  portion  of 
the  city,  destitution  and  spiritual  neglect  shall  combine  with 
cupidity  to  arm  the  hand  of  violence  and  stimulate  it  to  still 
grosser  outrage.  What  higher  office  can  Trinity  Church  fulfill, 
what  higher  benefit  can  she  confer  on  the  classes  which  have 
the  deepest  stake  in  the  security  of  property  and  life,  than  by 
devoting  herself,  as  she  is  now  doing,  to  make  the  lessons  of 
religious  and  social  duty  familiar  to  those  who,  under  the  pres- 
sure of  their  physical  wants,  have  the  strongest  temptation  to 
forget  them? 

In  the  upper  districts,  the  possessors  of  nearly  the  whole  pri- 
vate wealth  of  the  city  have  become  domesticated.  There  is 
more  than  one  congregation,  the  individual  possessions  of  which 
are  believed  to  exceed  in  value,  with  the  largest  estimate  ever 
put  on  it,  t  ie  entire  property  Trinity  Church  holds,  for  the  sup- 
port of  her  four  congregations.  Those  whom  fortune  has  thus 
overburdened  with  her  gifts,  should  be  willing  to  leave  un- 
impaired, the  endowments  of  Trinity  Church,  that  she  may 
make  suitable  provision  for  the  poor,  whom  they  have  left 
to  her  care;  and,  whatever  may  be  the  narrowness  of  spirit 
which  presides  over  particular  circles,  no  doubt  is  entertained 
of  the  generous  and  catholic  feeling  which  pervades  the  great 
body  of  the  opulent  classes.  No  city  has  more  cause  to  be  thank- 
ful for  the  munificence  with  which  some  of  her  richest  men 
have  contributed  to  the  great  objects  of  social  improvement 
within  her  limits;  and  it  is  most  gratifying  to  add,  that  in  more 
than  one  instance,  the  wealth  which  exists  in  the  largest  masses, 
has  been  poured  out  with  the  noblest  profusion,  to  build  up  lite- 
rary and  charitable  institutions  for  the  common  benefit.  To  such  a 
spirit  of  munificence,  no  appeal  to  relieve  the  destitution  which 
hangs  upon  the  outskirts  of  the  upper  districts,  need  be  addressed 


268 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


in  vain.  If  among  those,  to  whom  providence  has  committed  the 
spiritual  guidance  of  these  favored  classes,  there  are  any  who 
seek  to  compel  Trinity  Church  to  scatter  her  endowments  broad- 
cast over  the  city,  and  thus  disqualiy  herself  for  the  great  work 
of  charity  devolved  on  her,  in  the  district  in  which  her  lot  has 
been  cast;, if  there  are  any  wlio  are  engaged  in  inculcating  an 
autiphonal  beneficence,  the  utterances  of  which  are  to  be  given 
only  in  response  to  those  of  Trinity,  it  is  suggested,  with  the 
profoundest  deference,  whether  a  nobler  field  for  the  exercise  of 
their  influence,  does  W)t  lie  directly  before  them.  Whether  the 
great  ends  of  their  calling  will  not  be  better  subserved  by  la- 
boring to  infuse  into  surrounding  atmospheres,  over  cast  with 
penury  and  want,  some  of  the  golden  light  which  irradiates 
their  own. 

The  State,  nay,  the  whole  country,  has  a  deep  interest  in 
this  question.  The  city  of  New-York,  embodying  as  she  does,  to 
a  great  extent,  the  commercial  and  financial  power  of  the  Union, 
must  exert  a  sensible  influence  upon  the  moral  and  intellectual 
character  of  all  with  whom  she  is  brought  into  association. 
The  slightest  agitations  on  her  surface  undulate  in  all  directions 
to  the  great  circumference,  of  which  she  is  the  centre.  On  Tri- 
nity Church  are  devolved,  in  the  order  of  events,  the  spiritual 
instruction  and  guidance  of  the  district,  by  which  she  is  brought 
most  directly  into  contact  with  all  that  lies  beyond  her  limits. 
If  this  duty  is  not  faithfully  performed,  no  voice  should  be 
raised  in  palliation  of  the  delinquency.  On  the  other  hand,  if 
any  of  those  who  have  withdrawn  from  this  part  of  the  city, 
the  wealth  which  providence  has,  in  such  disproportion, 
bestowed  on  them,  shall  seek  to  deprive  the' destitute,  whom 
they  have  left  behind,  of  their  sole  resource  for  spiritual  in- 
struction and  the  alleviation  of  their  temporal  wants;  if  they 
shall  succeed  by  mis  stating  the  condition,  and  unjustly  im- 
peaching the  motives  of  Trinity  Church,  in  defeating  her  efforts 
to  carry  out  the  great  system  of  labor  with  which  she  is  occu- 
pied, they  will  incur  the  gravest  and  the  most  odious  of  all  re- 
sponsibilities, that  of  consigning  one  of  the  most  important  dis- 
tricts in  the  emporium  of  the  Union  to  an  intellectual  and  spiri- 
tual death. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


269 


By  the  Senate  committee  : 

Q.  Were  not  Mr.  Curtiss  and  Mr.  Wolf  in  the  vestry  of  Trinity 
Church  ?  A.  I  think  that  Mr.  Wolf  ceased  to  be  a  member  of 
the  vestry  before  I  became  a  member  of  it.  Mr.  Curtiss  is  now 
a  member  of  the  vestry. 

Q.  Would  not  they  be  as  likely  to  understand  the  affairs  of 
the  vestry  as  other  members  of  it?  A.  I  think  they  have  the  same 
opportunities  that  other  members  of  the  vestry  have. 

Q.  Do  you  or  do  you  not  know  that  the  church  reported  in 
1854,  the  church  mortgages  as  part  of  her  capital?  A.  I  do  not 
know;  as  I  have  stated  in  my  communication,  I  was  out  of  the 
country  during  part  of  the  years  1854-55. 

Q.  Are  there  not  free  schools  provided  in  New- York  for  all 
classes  ?    A.  I  understand  there  are,  by  the  State. 

Q.  If  the  vestry  of  Trinity  had  adopted  the  first  plan  proposed 
for  building  Trinity  chapel,  at  a  cost  of  $40,000,  would  not  their 
debt  have  been  now  less  by  nearly  |200,000  ?  A.  If  the  plan 
had  been  adhered  to,  and  had  cost  no  more  than  the  architect 
estimated,  a  much  less  sum  than  $230,000  would  have  been  ex- 
pended on  the  chapel  and  site.  In  the  cost  of  $230,000  is  the 
expense  of  site.  Whether  the  debt  of  the  corporation  would 
have  been  less  now,  of  course,  I  cannot  say. 

Q.  Do  you  not  consider  that  the  estate  of  Trinity  Church  is  now 
of  much  greater  value  than  at  any  previous  period  ?  A.  That 
question  I  cannot  answer.  I  am  not  a  member  of  the  finance 
committee,  and  therefore  am  not  acquainted  with  the  details  of 
the  value  of  property. 

Q.  Do  you  or  do  you  not  know  that  there  have  been  applica- 
tions to  the  Legislature  for  the  repeal  of  the  law  of  1814?  A.  I 
am  not  aware  of  any  such  application. 

Q.  Were  you  acquainted  with  the  proceedings  of  the  vestry 
in  respect  to  the  valuation  of  the  St.  John's  Park  property  1 
A.  I  was  not  present  at  the  first  meeting  when  that  subject  was 
brought  before  the  vestry.    I  was  present,  I  think,  at  the  meet- 


270 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


ing  at  whicli  that  subject  was  discussed.  My  impression  is,  that 
the  vestry  at  first  refused  to  entertain  the  proposition  at  all  ;  but 
at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  nearly  all  the  owners  around  the 
park,  they  finally  agreed  to  release  their  interest  if  they  could 
receive  the  sum  of  $400,000.  I  never  understood  this  to  be  con- 
sidered as  the  value  of  the  property,  but  rather  as  the  measure 
of  the  damage  that  would  be  done  to  Trinity  Church  by  destroy- 
ing the  park.  This  was  my  own  view  of  the  subject,  and  I  con- 
sidered the  interest  of  Trinity  Church  so  remote  and  contingent 
that  I  would  not  have  undertaken  to  put  a  valuation  upon  it  in 
money. 

Q.  Were  you  acquainted  with  the  making  of  the  report  of 
Trinity  Church,  in  February,  1856  1  A.  No,  sir.  I  was  out  of 
the  State. 

Q.  Have  you  stated  in  your  written  testimony  what  amount 
Trinity  Church  pays  to  Bishop  Potter  as  his  salary  ?  A.  The 
amount  is  embraced  in  the  aggregate  expenditure,  but  is  not 
specified. 

Q.  Will  you  please  to  state  it  ?  A.  I  think  it  is  5^1.600.  Mr. 
Minturn  and  Mr.  Bradish,  who  were  members  of  the  committee 
with  myself,  appointed  by  the  convention  of  the  diocese,  for  the 
purpose  of  apportioning  the  Bishop's  salary  among  the  churches 
of  the  diocese,  thought  Trinity  Church  should  pay  a  larger  sum, 
and  I  think  on  the  ground  of  her  endowment. 

Q.  From  what  you  know  of  the  value  of  real  estate  in  the 
city  of  New-York,  would  you  not  think  that  the  property  of 
Trinity  Church  is  increasing  in  value  ?  A.  I  \\^ve  no  doubt  it  is. 

Q.  I  perceive  by  the  report  of  Trinity  Church,  that  the  leases 
of  a  large  number  of  lots  have  expired,  or  are  about  expiring. 
I  would  ask  whether  it  is  your  opinion  the  vestry  should  sell 
those  lots,  and  pay  their  debts,  or  lease  them  1  A.  It  is  my 
opinion  they  should  sell  the  lots  and  the  debts  of  the  corporation 
be  paid. 

Q.  Do  you  think  the  majority  of  the  vestry  agree  with  you  in 
that  opinion  1    A.  That  I  cannot  say. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


271 


Q.  Is  there  not,  in  certain  parts  of  the  city  of  New-York,  a 
great  scarcity  or  want  of  churches — I  mean  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  town,  and  in  the  4th,  6th,  13th  and  14th  wards?  A.  I  am 
not  acquainted  with  the  limits  of  the  wards;  though  I  have  no 
special  knowledge,  I  have  no  doubt  churches  might  be  estab- 
lished with  advantage  in  many  parts  of  the  city. 

Q.  After  selling  sufficient  property  to  pay  the  present  indebt- 
edness of  Trinity  Church,  in  your  opinion,  should  her  policy  be 
to  retain  the  balance  of  her  real  estate  and  appropriate  only  the 
income  of  it  ?  A.I  cannot  say  that  I  have  had  any  definite  plan 
with  regard  to  the  future.  My  idea  has  been  that  her  debt 
should  first  be  paid  5  that  her  property  should,  as  far  as  practi- 
cable, be  preserved  until  it  could  be  sold  without  loss;  and  that 
when  she  has  set  apart  the  funds  necessary  to  take  care  of  the 
lower  part  of  the  city,  I  would  be  very  liberal  in  donations  to 
other  churches,  not  only  of  income,  but  of  principal,  where  it 
could  be  done  without  impairing  her  own  means  of  usefulness 
in  her  particular  sphere  of  duties. 

*  Q.  When  the  leases  expire,  could  not  the  property  of  Trinity 
Church  be  made  more  productive  by  a  sale  than  by  re-letting; 
and  would  not  the  sale  be  more  beneficial  to  the  interests  of  the 
church  and  city?  A.  It  is  a  very  large  question,  and  one  that 
I  am  not  prepared  to  answer  at  this  time.  I  will  add,  that  I 
have  been  in  favor  of  selling  her  property  whenever  it  could  be 
done  advantageously. 

Q.  Cannot  the  property  be  now  sold  to  advantage,  subject  to 
the  leases  referred  to  ?  A.  As  a  general  rule  I  should  think 
not;  though  I  have  no  doubt  that  some  particular  pieces  of  pro- 
perty or  lots  may  be. 

Q.  What  do  you  think  of  the  policy  of  making  some  of  the 
large  grants  to  the  up  town  churches,  the  Annunciation  and  St. 
Luke's?  A.  I  was  not  at  the  meetings  of  the  vestry,  I  think,  at 
which  those  two  grants  were  made;  and  I  cannot,  therefore, 
speak  of  the  special  inducements  for  making  them. 

Q.  When  acting  as  a  vestryman  of  Trinity,  do  you  consider 
yourself  acting  as  a  vestryman  of  Trinity  parish  only,  or  as  a 


272 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


trustee  for  Episcopalians  in  the  city  of  New- York  generally? 
A.  I  consider  myself  as  acting  as  a  trustee  for  Trinity  parish 
only. 

By  counsel  for  Trinity  Church  : 

Q.  What  can  you  state  with  regard  to  the  mortgage  held  by 
Trinity  Church  upon  Zion  church,  in  Mott-street  ?  A.  My  re- 
collection is  that  Trinity  Church  loaned  to  Zion  church,  in  Mott- 
street,  in  1830,  the  sum  of  $7,000.  In  1850,  on  the  removal  of 
the  church  to  Murray  Hill,  Trinity  Church  transferred  the  loan 
of  the  mortgage  to  the  new  church,  which  was  to  be  built,  and 
remitted  the  interest  of  the  old  mortgage  for  the  twenty  years, 
which  amounted  to  $9,800. 

Q.  Can  you  tell  me  whether  this  (presenting  the  following 
paper)  is  a  copy  of  a  resolution  from  the  minutes  of  the  vestry 
of  Trinity  church  1  A.  It  is.  I  compared  it  with  the  original 
minutes.    The  following  is  a  copy  : 

Extract  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Corporation  of  Trinity  Churchy 
held  on  the  2Sth  day  of  March,  1812. 

RESOLUTION. 

Report  of  com7nittee  on  the  state  of  the  church: 

It  having  been  represented  to  this  board,  that  certain  persons 
belonging  to  Protestant  Episcopal  congregations  in  this  city, 
which  have  been  incorporated  as  separate  and  distinct  from  the 
corporation  of  Trinity  church,  and  who,  are  not  pew  holders  in 
Trinity  church,  or  any  of  its  chapels,  claim  a  right  to  vote  at  the 
annual  elections  for  church  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  Trinity 
church,  therefore — 

Resolved,  As  the  unanimous  sense  of  this  board,  that  no  other 
persons  except  inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New- York,  who  profess 
themselves  members  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  and 
hold,  occupy  or  enjoy  a  pew  or  seat  in  Trinity  church,  or  one 
of  its  chapels,  and  regularly  pay  to  the  support  of  the  said 
church,  or  regularly  worshipping  therein,  shall  partake  of  the 
holy  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  in  the  said  church,  or  one 
of  its  chapels,  at  least  once  in  every  year,  are  entitled  to  vote  at 
the  said  elections. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


273 


Examination  by  counsel  for  Trinity  Church. — John  R.  Living- 
ston called  and  sworn  : 

Q.  How  long  have  you  been  a  vestryman  of  Trinity  Church  ? 
A.  I  was  elected,  I  think,  in  January,  1847,  and  have  continued 
to  this  time. 

Q.  What  Episcopal  churches  were  there  in  the  city  of  New- 
York,  independent  of  Trinity  Church,  prior  to  1814,  and  which 
of  such  churches  were  built  by  Trinity  Church  ?  A.  There  were 
nine  Episcopal  churches,  independent  of  Trinity  and  her  chap- 
els ;  three  of  which  w^ere  built  by  Trinity  Church.  They  were 
St.  George's  chapel,  Grace  church  and  St.  Mark's  church. 

Q.  How  has  the  increase  ot^parishes  in  the  city  of  New- York, 
since  1813,  compared  with  the  increase  of  the  population  of  the 
city  ?  A.  In  1814,  there  were  twelve  congregations,  including 
those  of  Trinity  parish.  In  1847,  there  were  thirty-five  congre- 
gations. In  1857,  there  are,  as  appears  in  evidence,  fifty  con- 
gregations. The  increase  from  1814  to  1847,  a  term  of  thirty- 
three  years,  was  twenty-three  congregations.  The  increase  from 
1847  to  1857,  a  term  of  ten  years,  is  fifteen  congregations.  In 
1814,  the  population  was  105,000,  according  to  the  testimony  of 
Mr.  Winston.  In  1857,  the  population  is  said  to  be  about  650,- 
000.  Some  of  the  recently  built  churches,  are  very  large.  I 
will  instance  St.  George's  church.  Calvary,  Trinity  chapel  and 
the  church  of  the  Transfiguration. 

Q.  Has  Trinity  Church  ever  foreclosed  any  of  the  mortgages 
received  for  loans  to  churches  ?  A.  I  am  quite  sure  she  never 
has. 

Q.  Will  you  explain  the  transactions  with  regard,  to  the 
premises  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  City  Mission  Society  1  A. 
In  the  early  days  of  the  city  Mission  Society,  the  corporation 
of  Trinity  Church  determined  to  make  annual  appropriations 
towards  the  support  of  the  missionaries,  in  preference  to  giving 
land  or  building  churches.  They  accordingly,  in  1832,  appro- 
priated $1,200,  and  afterwards  $1,8(>0  per  annum.  In  the  year 
1837,  the  'society  was  embarrassed,  and  obtained  from  Trinity 

18 


274 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Church  a  loan  of  §1 0,000,  secured  by  a  mortgage  on  the  two 
mission  churches  of  the  Holy  Evangelists  in  Vandewater-street^ 
and  the  church  of  Epiphany  in  Stanton-street.  This  was  a 
business  transaction  and  in  no  sense  a  gift  to  the  society.  In 
1844,  the  Howard  Insurance  company  foreclosed  prior  mortgages 
held  by  them  on  the  two  City  Mission  churches,  and  the  premiseSj 
by  an  arrangement  made  by  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  were 
transferred  to  the  two  congregations  that  had  become  indepen- 
dent corporations.  The  corporation  of  Trinity  Church  assumed 
the  payment  of  $13,000  of  the  consideration  money,  the  balance 
I  believe  was  raised  by  the  respective  church  corporations.  In 
this  arrangement,  it  was  necessary  to  credit  the  City  Mission 
Society  with  the  residue  of  the  consideration  or  purchase  money, 
after  satisfying  prior  existing  incumbrances  on  the  premises. 
The  amount  thus  audited  is  |10.140.51,  which  amount  increased 
to  $13,000,  was  advanced,  by  the  corporation  of  Trinity  Church, 
to  the  two  churches  in  equal  amounts,  and  mortgages  given  by 
each  of  them  to  the  corporation  of  Trinity  Church  for  the  sum 
of  $6,500.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  in  this  instance  the  mort- 
gage to  Trinity  Church  ''did  tend  to  secure  the  permanent  use 
to  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  the  building  and  property 
thus  mortgaged." 

Q.  What  have  you  to  say  with  regard  to  the  mortgage  on  the 
Vandt water  -street  Church  ?  A.  When  the  corporation  of  Trinity 
Church  had  made  arrangements  for  the  purchase  of  St.  George's 
church  in  Beekman  street,  they  received  a  communication  from 
the  vestry  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Evangelists  in  Vandewater- 
street,  in  the  4th  ward  of  the  city,  stating  that  two  churches  so 
closely  together  as  the  Holy  Evangelists  and  St.  George's  in 
Eeekman-street,  having  special  reference  to  the  benefit  of  the 
same  class  of  persons — the  poor  who  attended — would  injudi- 
ciously affect  each  other,  and  so  weaken  both  as  to  be  a  cause  of 
lasting  sorrow.  They  also  stated  that  their  church  was  in  a 
dilapidated  condition,  and  would  require  a  large  expenditure  to 
repair  it;  and  besides  this,  that  the  location  for  a  church  had 
become  the  worst  in  the  city.  This  communication  was  referred 
to  a  special  committee  on  St.  George's  church,  and  on  their  re- 
commendation, the  vestry  removed  the  congregation  of  the  church 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH.  275 

of  the  Holy  Evangelists  to  St.  George's  church  in  Beekman-st., 
mid  had  the  property  transferred  to  that  corporation.  The  church 
in  Vandewater-street  was  then  sold  by  its  own  vestrj^,  and  after 
paying  off  all  prior  incumbrances,  the  balance  of  $1,200  Avas 
paid  over  to  Trinity  corporation,  who  expended  this  amount, 
together  with  a  much  larger  sum,  in. preparing  St.  George's 
church  for  their  accommodation, 

Q.  Do  you  know  how  much  money  the  church  of  St.  John  the 
Baptist  has  received  from  Trinity  Church  since  its  report  was 
made?  A.  The  corporation  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  have 
recently  erected  a  fine  church  building  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
city.  Before  the  church  was  completed,  they  became  very  much 
embarrassed  and  applied  to  Trinity  to  assume  the  interest  on 
the  sum  of  |1 5,000.  This  matter  was  referred  to  the  standing 
committee,  who  reported  adversely  to  the  application.  It  was 
considered  in  the  vestry,  their  report  was  overruled  and  the 
application  granted.  I  will  here  add  that  on  the  same  evening, 
a  similar  report  was  made  on  the  application  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Howland;  it  having  become  absolutely  necessary  to  protect  the 
church  building  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  the  vestry  could  not 
respond  at  that  time  to  Mr.  Rowland's  application,  and  referred 
it  back  to  the  same  committee  for  further  action. 

Q.  What  explanation  can  you  give  in  regard  to  the  grant  to 
St.  Jude's  church?  A.  In  1843,  the  standing  committee  made  a 
report  on  an  application  of  St.  Jade's  Church  for  aid,  setting 
forth  that  the  church  had  no  permanent  edifice  or  fixed  location, 
that  its  present  place  of  worship  was  in  a  part  of  the  city  sur- 
rounded by  other  churches  affording  ample  accommodations  for 
all  persons  in  that  vicinity,  and  recommending  on  these  grounds, 
and  also  on  the  ground  of  the  condition  of  the  finances  of  the 
corporation,  that  the  application  be  not  complied  with,  which 
was  adopted  by  the  vestry. 

Q.  Has  the  amount  of  annual  stipends  been  reduced?  A.  I 
think  not.  My  impression  is  that  the  aggregate  amount  has 
been  gradually  increased  each  year  during  the  last  ten  years. 
There  are  three  instances  to  my  knowledge,  where  they  have 


276 


BEPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


been  entirely  dispensed  witli.  St.  Tliomas'  Churcli,  the  salary 
of  whose  rector  is  said  to  be  $5000  per  annum,  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's and  the  Church  of  the  Ascension,  whose  congregations 
have  been  equally  liberal  towards  their  pastor.  These  amounts 
have  been  transferred  to  other  congregations  who  were  in  need 
of  them. 

Q.  What  effect  has  the  disposing  of  large  masses  ot  property 
by  lease,  had  upon  the  value  of  real  estate  contiguous  1  A. 
Some  of  the  finest  and  most  costly  private  dwellings  in  the  city 
of  New- York  are  built  on  the  property  of  the  Trustees  of  the 
Sailor's  Snug  Harbor,  a  charitable  institution.  It  is  situated  in 
the  finest  and  most  fashionable  part  of  the  city,  and  the  real 
estate  in  the  vicinity  is  materially  enhanced  in  value  by  the 
condition  of  this  leasehold  property.  In  another  portion  of  the 
city,  a  large  leasehold  estate  on  Fourteenth  street,  extending 
from  University  Place  to  the  Sixth  Avenue,  known  as  the 
Spingler  lease,  is  covered  with  similar  fine  dwellings,  and  the 
property  in  the  neighborhood  is  of  the  most  valuable  in  the  city. 
The  same  is  also  true  of  the  leased  property  of  Columbia  Col- 
lege, which  was  derived  from  Trinity  Church;  and  the  church's 
leased  property  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city  has  always  been 
well  improved  and  fine  buildings  erected  upon  it. 

Q.  Is  it  true,  as  stated  in  the  report  of  the  committee,  foot  of 
page  18,  that  Col.  Troop's  pamphlet  was  an  inducement  to  the 
Legislature  to  pass  the  act  of  1814?  A.  It  cannot  be  true,  from 
the  fact  that  the  act  was  passed  on  the  2d  of  April,  1813,  and 
the  pamphlet  bears  date  the  6th  of  September  following. 

Q.  What  have  you  to  say  as  to  the  result  of  the  policy  of  the 
vestry  in  granting  money  instead  of  lots  1  A.I  desire  to  con- 
trast the  result  of  the  policy  adopted  prior  and  since  the  year 
1814.  Since  the  year  1814,  the  policy  of  Trinity  Church  has 
been  to  grant  to  churches,  institutions  of  charity,  and  learning^ 
money  instead  of  lots.  Besides  having  built  St.  George's,  Grace 
and  St.  Mary's  churches,  and  St.  John's  and  St.  Paul's  chapels, 
this  corporation  have  aided  in  this  State  about  201  churches — 71 
in  western  New- York,  41  in  the  city  of  New-York  and  89  in  other 
parts  of  this  diocese.    Hobart  College,  at  Geneva,  has  been  made 


OF  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


277 


free  by  her  means ;  the  General  Theological  Seminary  and  the 
Education  and  Missionary  Fund  aided;  appropriations  have  been 
made  to  foreign,  home  and  city  missions  of  our  church;  an  Epis- 
copal residence  has  been  purchased,  and  the  Episcopal  fund 
largely  increased  j  annuities  have  been  made  to  the  families  of 
deceased  clergymen ;  the  aged  and  infirm  of  the  clergy  have  been 
assisted,  and  monuments  have  been  erected  to  worth,  valor  and 
patriotism.  These  are  some  of  the  advantages  obtained,  and 
benefits  derived  from  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  1059  lots.  It 
is  respectfully  submitted  that  they  will  compare  favorably,  in 
value  and  usefulness,  with  the  lormer  policy  of  the  vestry,  of 
granting  a  large  number  of  lots  to  a  few  favored  churches  and 
institutions. 

Q.  State  whether  grants  have  been  made  in  a  spirit  of  partia- 
lity or  partizanship 

A.  I  answer  unqualifiedly  no,  on  behalf  ol  myself  and  asso- 
ciates. 

Q.  Has  Trinity  Church,  in  your  opinion,  done  her  utmost  to 
make  the  capital  of  her  property  available  for  religious  pur- 
poses, kcA  A.  My  answer  is,  that  she  has  endeavored  to  do  her 
best  in  the  exercise  of  an  honest  judgment. 

Q.  Is  there  any  obstacle  to  the  collection  of  church  mortgages 
if  the  vestry  are  so  disposed  ?  A.  I  think  there  is,  the  great 
obstacle  of  good  faith. 

Q.  Are  there  other  standing  business  committees  in  the  vestry 
besides  the  standing  committee  1  A.  There  are  three  standing 
committees  in  all ;  the  standing  committee  proper,  which  is  the 
finance  committee,  the  committee  on  supplies  and  repairs,  and 
the  committee  on  the  cemetery;  special  committees  are  frequently 
appointed  as  occasion  may  require. 

By  the  Senate  committee: 

Q.  Will  you  look  at  the  poll  list  of  1854,  and  see  how  many 
of  them  are  not  connected  with  Trinity  Church  as  vestrymen, 
clergymen  or  officers  ?  A.  All  are  corporators  of  Trinity  Church, 
twelve  of  the  twenty-six  are  in  no  manner  connected  with  Trinity 
Church  as  vestrymen,  clergymen  or  officers. 


278 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


Q.  Does  not  Col.  Troup's  pamphlet  bear  date  before  the  law 
of  1814  was  passed  ?  A.  Col.  Troup's  pamphlet  bears  date  the 
6th  of  September,  1813.  The  bill  had  passed  both  houses  on  the 
2d  of  April,  1813,  and  became  a  law  on  the  25th  of  January, 
1814.  I  beg  leave  to  add,  Col.  Troup  states  in  his  pamphlet  that 
two  members  of  the  council  of  revision,  were  pleased  to  express 
a  desire  that  he  would  furnish  them  his  reasons  in  support  of 
the  bill,  and  in  compliance  with  this  desire,  his  argument  was 
made. 

Q.  Do  you  know  that  the  churchmen  in  New-York  have  ap- 
plied to  have  the  law  of  1814  repealed,  in  1846,  or  at  other  times'? 
A.  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  from  1814  to  1846,  no  such 
application  was  made,  a  period  of  thirty-two  years.  In  1846 
and  1847,  the  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Taylor,  Rev.  Dr.  Anthon,  Rev. 
Jesse  Pound,  the  Hon.  Luther  Eradish,  Robert  B.  MinturUjEsq.j 
Frederick  S.  Winston,  Esq.,  Stewart  Brown,-E^-q.,  John  De  Wolf, 
Esq.,  Stephen  Cambreling,  Esq.,  did  unite  with  others,  in  an  ap- 
plication to  the  Legislature  to  repeal  the  act  of  1814. 

Q.  Were  the  church  mortgages,  as  they  are  called,  reported 
as  capital  in  your  report  of  1854?  A.  They  were  reported  as 
church  mortgages  on  which  no  interest  was  collected.  If  they 
had  not  been  reported  as  property,  it  might  have  been  difficult 
to  protect  the  churches  for  whose  benefit  they  were  taken. 

Q.  Why  then  should  they  not  have  been  reported  in  1856? 
A.  They  having  been  reported  once,  it  would  answer  that  pur- 
pose, and  they  were  not  asked  for. 

Q.  You  say  in  your  report,  on  page  10,  that  you  have  endea- 
vored to  show  the  condition  of  the  capital  of  Trinity  Church, 
and  have  omitted  to  mention  these  mortgages.  What  is  your 
explanation  of  this?  A.  I  do  not  consider  these  mortgages  any 
portion  of  the  available  capital  of  Trinity  Church. 

Q.  I  ask  you,  if  they  are  not  capital  ?  A.  I  answer  that  that 
is  a  matter  of  opinion;  I  think  not. 

Q  Was  not  one  of  the  reasons  for  refusing  aid  to  St.  Matthew's 
church  alleged  to  be,  that  her  language  was  not  respectful?  A. 
No  sir,  not  that  I  have  heard  of. 


9 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


279 


Q.  Was  not  the  language  of  the  application,  considered  by 
the  vestry,  imperative,  and  spoken  of  as  being  sol  A.  I  think  it 
was. 

Q.  Is  not  the  real  estate  of  Trinity  church  worth  more  now 
than  at  any  former  period  ?    A.  I  think  it  is. 

Q.  What  is  the  character  of  the  improvements  on  most  of  the 
leased  property  of  Trinity  church  ?  A.  The  property  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  city  is  very  well  improved;  some  of  the  local- 
ities in  the  upper  part  are  well  improved,  and  others  indiffer- 
ently so.    This  depends  very  much  upon  the  situation. 

Q.  Are  not  most  of  the  buildings  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
city  very  poor  and  inferior?  A.  Many  of  the  buildings  were 
erected  a  long  time  ago,  and  do  not  compare  favorably  with  such 
as  are  now  built. 

Q.  You  spoke  of  three  churches  from  which  stipends  were  taken 
away  altogether;  are  not  all  three  such  as- are  called  "  low" 
churches?  A.  Stipends  were  given  by  the  corporation  of  Tri- 
nity church,  with  the  intention  of  providing  for,  or  contributing 
towards  the  salary  of  the  minister;  and  in  all  cases  where  the 
congregations  are  sufficiently  wealthy  to  provide  liberally  for 
their  rectors,  the  vestry  of  Trinity  church  has  considered  it  a 
duty  to  withdraw  the  stipends,  without  reference  to  the  party 
character  of  the  congregations,  or  rector.  The  three  churches 
named  in  the  question,  are  supposed  to  belong  to  what  is  called 
the  "  low"  church  party. 

Adjourned  to  10  A.  M.,  to-morrow. 


Tuesday,  Feb.  24,  1857. 
Present — The  Senate  committee,  Messrs.  Spencer  Noxon,  and 
Ramsey.    Counsel  as  before. 

This  meeting  of  the  committee  was  mainly  devoted  to  making 
such  verbal  alterations  in  the  testimony  as  had  been  deemed 
necessary  by  the  counsel  for  Trinity  Church  to  fully  present  the 


280 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


meaning  of  the  several  witnesses  testifying.  The  several  altera- 
tions were  assented  to  by  the  committee. 


Wednesday,  February  25. 
Richard  H.  Ogden  called  and  sworn : 

Q.  Are  you  the  clerk  of  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  1  A.  Yes, 
sir. 

Q.  Have  you  made  search  for  the  poll  list  of  voters  at  the 
vestry  elections  held  prior  to  1814  ?  A.  I  have  made  search  and 
cannot  find  any.  I  have  no  means  of  ascertaining  whether  they 
were  preserved  at  as  early  a  date  as  that. 

By  the  committee : 

Q.  Have  you  made  search  since  1814  7    A.  I  have. 

Q.  Do  you  find  any  lists  on  file?    A.  None  prior  to  1846. 

William  S.  Be  Zeng,  called  and  sworn : 

Q.  As  agent  of  Trinity  Church,  did  you  apply  to  the  commit- 
tee, in  the  city  of  New- York,  for  a  copy  of  the  testimony  taken 
by  them,  after  the  testimony  was  closed!  A.  I  was  requested 
by  Mr.  Dunscomb,  the  Comptroller,  to  apply  for  a  copy 
about  the  time  the  committee  were  done  taking  testimony 
ny.  After  the  request  was  made,  I  saw  both  Mr.  Noxon  and 
Mr.  Ramsey,  and  asked  them  for  a  copy  of  the  testimony.  They 
said  there  was  no  objection  to  our  having  a  copy.  I  then  went 
to  the  clerk  of  the  committee  and  asked  him  if  he  would  furnish 
a  copy,  we  paying  for  it.  He  declined;  said  he  could  not  do  it 
without  the  authority  of  Mr.  Spencer.  I  then  saw  Mr.  Spencer, 
and  Mr.  Spencer  said  he  could  not  authorise  it,  and  thought  it 
would  be  improper  until  the  committee  should  make  a  report.  I 
told  Mr.  Spencer  if  a  copy  could  be  made  we  would  pay  for  it. 

The  counsel  for  Trinity  Church  here  produced  an  affidavit  of 
service  of  a  subpoena  to  appear  and  testify,  upon  the  Rev.  Thos. 
H.  Taylor,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Henry  Anthon,  D.  D.,  Luther  Bradish, 
and  Stewart  Brown,  on  the  9th  day  of  February,  instant,  and  that 
they  failed  to  appear. 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


281 


Counsel  for  Church  here  closed. 

The  chairman  of  the  committee  presented  the  following  let- 
ters from  persons  who  had  been  subpcenaed,  but  had  failed  to 
attend  : 

New- York,  Feb.  10,  1857. 
To  the  Hon.  Mark  Spencer,  James  Noxon  and  J.  H.  Ramsey, 

Committee^  ^"C,  Albany. 

Sirs — At  5  o'clock  this  evening  I  received  your  summons  in 
the  matter  of  Trinity  Church,  requiring  me  to  attend  before  you 
on  the  12th  day  of  February  instant,  at  9  o'clock  a.m.,  at  the 
rooms  of  the  committee  in  the  capitol  in  the  city  of  Albany,  to 
testify  and  give  evidence  before  you  in  relation  to  the  matters 
referred  to  you. 

While  I  entertain  the  highest  respect  for  your  committee,  and 
for  the  authority  by  which  you  act,  yet  in  the  present  condition 
of  the  communications  between  this  city  and  Albany,  the 
inclemency  of  the  season,  my  advanced  age,  and  the  state  of  my 
health,  which  is  not  good,  a  compliance  with  the  requirements  of 
your  summons  would  be  extremely  difficult,  if  not  quite  imprac- 
ticable. I  trust,  therefore,  that  it  may  not  be  deemed,  under 
the  circumstances,  an  unreasonable  indulgence,  when  I  respect- 
fully ask  to  be  excused  from  a  personal  attendance  before  your 
committee;  and  in  lieu  thereof  to  be  permitted  to  answer  on 
paper  any  cross  or  explanatory  interrogatories  which  any  party 
interested  may  desire  to  put  to  me.  This  I  shall  cheerfully  do, 
even  although  it  may  involve  a  greater  labor  than  a  personal 
examination  under  the  circumstances  would  do. 

Under  present  circumstances  were  I,  at  every  inconvenience 
and  risk,  to  attempt  a  compliance  with  the  requirement  of  your 
summons,  it  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  attend  before  you  in 
person  at  the  time  indicated  by  you.  1  venture,  therefore, 
respectfully  but  confidently  to  hope  that  the  indulgence  I  ask  in 
this  case  maybe  accorded  by  the  committee.  In  which  hope  I 
remain,  sirs,  with  the  highest  respect, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

L.  BRADISH. 

19 


282 


REPORT  OF  SELECT  COMMITTEE 


New- York,  Feb,  Uth,  1857. 

Hon.  Mark  Spencer  : 

Dear  Sir — I  received  yesterday  afternoon  a  summons  to  attend 
before  the  committee,  of  which  you  are  the  chairman,  on  the 
12th  inst.,  to  give  evidence  in  relation  to  the  matter  of  Trinity 
Church.  Having  but  just  been  relieved  from  a  severe  cold,  I 
feel  a  great  reluctance,  especially  at  this  season,  and  in  the 
present  state  of  the  roads,  to  encounter  the  fatigue  and  exposure 
of  a  journey  to  Albany.  I  beg  leave,  therefore,  respectfully  to 
place  my  case  before  your  committee,  in  the  hope  that  they  will 
excuse  me  from  attending;  and  I  do  so  with  the  less  hestitation, 
as  my  evidence  was  given  in  full  when  the  committee  were  in 
session  in  this  city.  Most  respectfully  yours, 

H.  ANTHON. 

804  Broadway,  New- York,  ) 
February  16,  1857.  \ 

Hon.  Mark  Spencer,  Chairman^  Sfc: 

My  Dear  Sir — Absence  from  home,  and  a  pressure  of  unavoid- 
able engagements,  have  prevented  me  from  making  an  earlier 
acknowledgment  of  the  receipt  of  a  summons  from  the  special 
committee  of  the  Senate,  in  the  matter  of  Trinity  Church,  requir- 
ing me  to  attend  and  give  evidence  before  the  committee  on  the 
12th  inst.  With  the  most  jDcrfect  respect  for  the  committee, 
and  Avith  an  earnest  desire  to  meet  all  their  requirements,  it  was 
yet  entirely  out  of  my  power  to  attend  at  Albany  as  a  witness  at 
the  time  specified. 

While  I  thus  freely  and  sincerely  express  my  respect  for  your 
committee,  and  my  regret  at  not  being  j^ermitted  to  aid  them  as 
I  best  could  in  their  important  labors,  yet  you  must  permit  me 
to  say,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  none  of  this  respect,  and  nothing  of 
this  regret  is  intended  by  me,  to  extend  to  any  hired  agents  of 
Trinity,  at  whose  instance,  as  I  take  it,  the  summons  now  be- 
fore me  was  issued. 

During  the  meetings  of  your  committee  in  this  city  every 
opportunity  was  afforded  to  the  corporation  of  Trinity  Church, 
either  to  summon  witnesses  or  to  propose  cross-interrogatories  to 


ON  AFFAIRS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. 


283 


every  witness  before  your  committee ;  and  if  in  their  supercili- 
ousness or  reckless  negligence  tliey  did  not  avail  themselves  of 
their  privilege,  the  consequences  must  rest  upon  themselves. 
The  vexatious  course  they  are  now  pursuing,  of  attempting  to 
drag  gentlemen  from  their  business  and  their  homes  at  this  in- 
clement season  of  the  year,  from  whom  they  well  know  that 
they  cannot  obtain  one  word  of  evidence  in  any  way  useful  to 
Trinity  Church,  has  no  other  earthly  object  than  to  gain  time^ 
and  thus  to  defeat  by  postponing  one  of  the  most  salutary  mea- 
sures of  reform  that  has  ever  claimed  the  attention  of  the  Legis- 
lature of  the  State. 

With  my  renewed  assurance  of  the  most  perfect  respect  for 
your  committee,  permit  me  to  subscribe  myself,  Mr.  Chairman, 
Your  friend  and  obedient  servant, 
Very  truly, 

THOMAS  HOUSE  TAYLOR, 
Rector  of  Grace  Church  in  the  city  of  JYew-York. 

The  following  letter  was  presented  by  the  counsel  for  Trinity 
corporation,  and  ordered  filed  with  those  previously  received. 

"  New- York,  February  24,  1857. 

Wm.  E.  Dunscomb,  Esq. 

Dear  Sir. — I  have  received  your  note  of  yesterday,  asking  me 
again  to  go  up  to  Albany.  For  myself  I  cannot  see  its  impor- 
tance ;  and  with  reference  to  my  answer  that  I  '  have  been  on 
a  committee  to  examine  the  annual  report,  and  examination  of 
the  accounts  of  the  comptroller  ;  they  have  access  to  all  the 
books  referred  to  in  the  annual  report,  and  such  only.'  Our 
committee  at  this  examination  called  on  Mr.  Rogers,  the  clerk, 
for  the  books  and  vouchers,  who  furnished  the  same  and  no 
others,  because  no  others  were  called  for  by  the  committee  ;  and 
that  is  wiiat  I  mean  by  '  and  such  only.'  And  by  going  to 
Albany  I  could  give  no  other  explanation,  and  to  my  mind  no 
other  one  is  required.  Did  I  suppose  that  I  could  be  of  any  use  to 
the  committee  by  going  up  to  Albany,  I  w^ould  try  to  go  up,  yet, 
as  I  wrote  Mr.  Ogden,  it  would  be  at  not  a  little  personal  incon- 
venience ;  and,  therefore,  hope  that  you  will  excuse  me,  and 
oblige 

Very  truly  yours, 

CYRUS  CURTISS." 
Adjourned  to  10  A.  M.,  Saturday  morning. 


lEx  IGtbrtH 


SEYMOUR  DURST 


When  you  leave,  please  leave  this  book 

Because  it  has  been  said 
"Ever  thing  comes  t'  him  who  waits 

Except  a  loaned  book." 

^52/ 


Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


